McGuire: McKibbon Or Maguire? Who’ll Be The Hong Kong Open Big Mac?

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Tom McKibbon brilliantly responded to M J Maguire’s ‘moving day’ leadership challenge with late round back-to-birdies to retain the lead by a shot heading to the Sunday’s close of the Link Hong Kong Open in suburban Fanling.

McKibbon had led or shared the lead in the 64th hosting of the premier Asian Tour event up until a 15th hole bogey when Maguire made his way to the front with his own back-to-back birdies at 17 and 18 on route to a sizzling score of 61 and head to the clubhouse on top at 19-under.

The 22-year-old McKibbon answered the challenge of his 10-years older rival in getting back to level at 19-under with the American thanks to a classy 16th hole birdie while he moved to 20-under one now one clear of Maguire thanks to a birdie at the par 4 17th ahead of a rock solid closing par in his second straight score of 65 and his one shot advantage going into final 18 holes.

“It was pretty good overall. I felt the course was playing a little tougher – the pins seemed harder but I played some very nice golf. I holed a few good putts, and everything felt solid”, said McKibbon.

“I think everyone came here knowing those spots are available, but for me, finishing second or third doesn’t make a big difference. I went into the week with the mindset of giving it a good go, and that’s what I’ll try to do.

“To win any tournament means a lot and with the history behind this event and the people who have won it before, it would be very special.”

Maguire is second on 19-under with fellow American Peter Uihlien, who was playing alongside McKibbon, first matching the Northern Irishman’s effort in picking-up five birdies over 13 holes ahead of a dropped shot of 15 before regrouping to match McKibbon in also birdieing 16 and 17 but horribly bogeyed the last also in a 65 and be third on 18-under.

McKibbon, and with the one win at the 2023 Porsche European Open, knows he’s going to under even more pressure heading into the final round not only from the two Americans but also with just four shots covering the leading 10 players.  Among them is Aussie Scott Hend sharing fourth spot on 17-under and Hend a former Hong Kong Open champ and current Asian Tour No. 1 .  Also on 17-under is Thai’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat (70).

Maguire sensationally capped his round holing his second shot for an eagle ‘2’ at the short par-4 11th hole, and the effort sandwiched between birdies at the 10th, 12th and 13th holes.

“Yeah it all kind of kicked off on 11, I holed out the second shot,” said Maguire.

“Had some tree trouble, was thinking about going over the trees. Hit a little punchy eight iron and it rolled in like a putt. You know, I was just happy to get that on the green and to see it drop. That was the kickstarter and I was able to make a few more birdies in a row.”

M.J., as he is affectionately known, hit the Asian Tour headlines exactly 12 months ago when he won the Black Mountain Championship, after defeating John Catlin on the second extra-hole of a sudden-death play-off. It was one of the surprise wins of the year by the unheralded American. It helped him finish the year sixth on the Asian Tour merit list.

He earned his Asian Tour card at the beginning of 2023, when he was fourth at Qualifying School and enjoyed a solid first season finishing 56th on the Asian Tour Order of Merit. That season was helped in a big way by tying for fourth in the International Series Vietnam, which had been his best finish on the Asian Tour before hitting the jackpot at Black Mountain.

His only other win came at the 2020 Shell Open on PGA Tour Latinoamerica and he played Korn Ferry Tour in 2022. The American, who is from Florida and attended the University of North Florida, celebrated his 32nd birthday on the Saturday of the Black Mountain event. Better known as ‘MJ’, he turned professional in 2014.

Winner of this week’s premier Asian Tour event will not only celebrate 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 boyhood heroes Padraig Harrington (2003) and Rory McIlroy, who captured the 2011 Hong Kong title and as the reigning US Open winner, as a Hong Kong Open champion.  If so, 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 Louis Oosthuizen, as the 2015 Open champion, the only player among the 68 who made the Hong Kong halfway cut already exempt into golf’s oldest major.

 



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