Tom McKibbin is now joining fellow Irishman and reigning Masters Champ Rory McIlroy Augusta bound after his sensational record-smashing Link Hong Kong Open victory.
Making his Asian Tour debut McKibbin first reset Asian Tour records with an opening round Old Course record 60 and with the rookie LIV attached star storming his way to seven shot success with a new four round 27-under victory tally on the host Hong Kong Open club course.
The 22-year-old was never headed over the four days, bettering the previous four-round victory mark by five shots of 22-under that Masters champion Patrick Reed had matched in winning a year ago.
However it was a week McKibbin, who is a member of the same Holywood Club in Belfast as McIlroy, was in a class all his own from the outset ahead of a closing 63 and an emphatic triumph in suburban Fanling.
JOINING @TheMasters CHAMP @McIlroyRory AUGUSTA BOUND ….
As @tommckibbin8 demolishes @TheHKOpen field winning by ⛳️ record-setting 7⃣ shots
Read: https://t.co/WqQB6DKP1L
✅@TOURMISS (Bernie ) pic.twitter.com/yUc0b3uT82
— Fatiha (@TOURMISS) November 2, 2025
His effort also was an incredible seven shots better than the American Peter Uihlein who finished runner-up on 20- under-par and with the trio of M J Maguire (65), Louis Oosthuizen (67) and Japan’s Tomoyo Ikemura (65) shaing third on 19-under.
That seven-shot gap between McKibbin and Uihlein equalled the largest margin of victory ever in the 64-year history of the event, matching Bernard Langher’s triumph in 1991 and Bill Brask’s in 1984.
“It was obviously amazing,” McKibbin said of his final round 63.
“I played some of the best golf I’ve ever played, so to have that sort of golf and shoot those scores around here is pretty special.
“It means a lot [to have the record], with a tournament with so much history behind it and the great players that have won this tournament, having the scoring record is pretty special and something that will definitely live with me forever.”
Tom McKibbin wins the 2025 Link Hong Kong Open on debut at Hong Kong Golf Club. Image Asian Tour
Victory also could also not have come at a more special time with McKibbin to now head to the final two events of the DP World Tour season in the UAE and where McIlroy will attempt to win the Race to Dubai for a seventh occasion.
McKibbin collected a first prize cheque of $360,000 but in the bigger picture it is a maiden Masters invitation that the quietly-spoken Northern Irishman will cherish most while he also earned an invitation to contest what will be his third appearnce in next year’s Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.
“Yeah, very excited to go back and play my third Open,” he said. “And it will be very, very cool to have that drive down Magnolia Lane for the first time ever.
“It’ll be even more special.
“You know, I think historic tournaments like this deserve their spots and it’s great to sort of take advantage of this”.
Having grown up admiring the likes of Padraig Harrington, Darren Clarke, Graeme McDowell and McIlroy winning at the game’s highest level, it’s very much a dream come true for McKibbin to be following in their footsteps.
It prompted McKibbin to pass on a message to his own to those now beginning to admire himself.
“Just follow your dreams,” he said.
“I’ve dreamt of doing this since I was a young kid and yeah, they come true if you dream hard enough.”
Well said Tom and see you at The Masters …. TourMiss
