McKibbin Two Rounds Shy Joining His Fellow Holywood Star McIlroy As Hong Kong Champion

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Tom McKibbon continues his impressive showing at the Link Hong Kong Open brilliantly leading the Asian Tour event into the weekend with a superb second round 65 for a two-stroke lead at 15-under-par in suburban Fanling.

McKibbon, who turns 23 in mid-December, was bogey-free for a second day running and highlighting his day with three birdies in succession from the 12th hole.

The nine-month old LIV Golf star heads an impressive leaderboard with American Peter Uihlein in second place on 13-under but walking from the course having taking a horror round-ending 18th hole triple bogey.

Uihlein, who has won twice this year on the Asian Tour, shares second with the Thai duo of Kiradeck Aphibarnrat, who has posted just as impressive scores of 64 and 63 and his younger compatriot Jazz Janewattananond with rounds of 61 and 65.  Both Thail players capped their rounds with an eagle ‘3’ at the par-5 13th hole.

Lurking close behind the leading foursome and sharing sixth spot is South African Louis Oostuizen thanks to day two score of 66 and with the former Open Championship winner tied with American Charlies Howell 111, and with his fellow LIV star posting an equal best second round of 62 that included an impressive run of five birdies in succession from the 12th hole.

Also sharing sixth in Belgium’s Thomas Pieters who added a 66 to his opening 62.

Just four shots off the lead is former Hong Kong Open winner and current Asian Tour No. 1  Scott Hend with scores of 64 and 65 to be sharing eighth place with fellow Aussie Matt Jones and two others.

“Very, very solid day,” said McGibbon.

“Game played very, very similar to yesterday. Just didn’t hole us as many putts. But yeah, very happy to keep the bogeys off the card.”

He has won once before on the European Tour, two years ago, and is chasing his first title on the Asian Tour and The International Series.

McGibbon added: “Hopefully, very similar stuff [over the weekend] would be nice. Think I’ve sort of took the approach going into this week just to sort of play very aggressive and sort of just whatever the outcome is, come the end of the week, it is what it is. And I think maybe I’ll just keep doing that. And, you know, I’ve had a quite nice year. So why not just go for it?”

Winner of this week’s premier Asian Tour event will not only celebrate the 64th hosting of the event in being handed the  gleaming Link Hong Kong Open trophy plus a $360,000 first prize cheque but also earn an invitation into the both the 2026 Masters and Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.

Should that golfer be McKibbon then he will proudly join fellow Holywood Golf Club member Rory McIlroy who captured the 2011 Hong Kong title, and as the reigning US Open winner, while McKibbon will get to make his Masters debut  alongside the Augusta National defending champion.

As well, there is the offer of a 2026 Open Championship tee time to the winner and with only Oosthuizen, as winner of the 2015 Open, the only player among the 68 who made the Hong Kong halfway cut already exempt into golf’s oldest major.

There was bitter disappointment for a second Northern Irishman in Hong Kong with Graeme McDowell, who had birdied four of his opening seven holes on day two, missing the halfway cut by a shot with his round of 67 for a four-under total.

As reported a day earlier by GolfByTourMiss, McDowell spoke of his disappointment in not arriving into Hong Kong till Wednesday morning and also the fact his golf clubs did not arrive to very early in the morning of Thursday’s opening day of competition.

It had meant McDowell contesting Wednesday’s Pro-Am with clubs leant to him by the Hong Kong club pro.

It has been a tough preparation ‘reminder’ for G Mac to swallow.

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