Tom McKibbin has left a big impression with a new course record and take the lead on his debut at this week’s 64th edition of the Link Hong Kong Open.
The 22-year-old Northern Irishman grabbed an eagle and eight sizzling birdies in a flawlass 10-under 60 over the composite lay-out of this week’s Asian Tour host layout.
McKibbon’s record is different to that of defending champ Patrick Reed who posted a third round 59 in winning last year’s event under a preferred lie rule due to the wet conditions.
The official course record had been a 61 posted by England’s Aaron Rai in the second round on his way to winning the Hong Kong Open title in 2018.
McKibbon afterwards revealed the round of 60 was a career low by two shots while he also set himelf up brilliantly, should he win the event, to secure automatic entry into next year’s Masters and Open Championship. He is yet to contest the Masters whereas he’s teed-up in the last two Open’s.
McKIBBON’s @tommckibbin8 @CallawayGolf STUNNING 6⃣0⃣ ….
Not only a new @TheHKOpen @asiantourgolf ⛳️ record but also a career low by two shots for the super-talented rookie @livgolf_league star who joined exactly nine months ago.
Tom also now three rounds shy of a maiden… pic.twitter.com/5aQb4qp3e2
— Fatiha (@TOURMISS) October 30, 2025
“For these events to have those spots up for grabs, they definitely motivate you to go out and play well, knowing what’s sort of on the table come the end of the week,” said McKibbon to Bunkered magazine.
“I came in with the mindset to aim at every flag and hope for the best. Obviously that worked today. Whether or not I keep deciding to do that, we’ll see, but maybe I just keep on that mentality and just go for it.”
McKibbin, a member of Jon Rahm’s Legion XIII team, teed off on hole 11 and picked up early birdies on 12 and 13, before carding three on the spin from 15 to 17. The 22-year-old then went birdie-eagle on two and three, before picking up two more shots on eight and 10 for a one-shot clubhouse lead.
McKibbon was naturally delighted with his effort.
The 2023 Porsche European Open winner, who finished T6 at LIV Golf Hong Kong earlier this season, said: “It was obviously a very, very good round. I didn’t really miss too many shots, holed a few nice putts and took advantage of the two par fives that there are out there. And yes, 60 shots later, I’m sitting here!”
On flirting with Reed’s 59, which the American posted in the third round en route to a four-shot victory last year, McKibbin said: “No, I looked at the scorecard after 17 holes and saw it was a par 70, so I knew I had to eagle the last so maybe that helped. But yes, 60 is the lowest round that I have ever shot – 62 has been my best before. So it was nice to break that, fantastic.”
Thai star Jazz Janewattananond, playing three groups behind and also starting off 11, produced a flawless round of 61 to sit one off the lead. The 2023 International Series Morocco champion, a seven-time Asian Tour winner started slower with three birdies on his front nine, before reeling off six on his back nine.
Compatriot Kiradech Aphibarnrat is a shot further behind on eight under. Also starting on 11, the 2013 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion was three under through three and four under at the turn, but a bogey on nine, his penultimate hole, was the only blemish on a card that included nine birdies.
Asian Tour Order of Merit leader Kazuki Higa of Japan is a shot further back on six under along with compatriot Tomaya Ikemura, who eagled 13, plus the Australian Travis Smyth, Ian Snyman of South Africa, M J Maguire of the U.S. and in-form Sarit Suwannarut of Thailand.
Reed is handily placed on five under in a three-man group on T15, while Miguel Tabuena, last week’s International Series Philippines winner, is in a group on T18, four under for the day.
Not so good news for 2010 US Open winner Graeme McDowell who only arrived in Hong Kong on Wednesday morning but without his clubs that did not arrive on an alternate flight till 5am Thursday and if not for long-time caddy Ken Comboy going to the airport to collect them, G Mac would have had to play with clubs owned by the local Hong Kong Club pro.
Thankfully McDowell was not out till just after 11am local time that allowed Comboy return with suitable time for McDowell to tee up in an eighth Hong Kong Open appearance.
“I played like a man that’s had two months off,” said McDowell speaking with Bunkered magazine after his round of 69.
“So, a little under-prepped and underplayed coming into this one.
“I didn’t really play great out there today. One-under par is not a particularly good effort on this golf course because it’s certainly there for you.
“I actually had a golf day in Florida on Monday that I had scheduled badly, which meant that I wasn’t scheduled to land here until 5am Wednesday morning,” he told bunkered.co.uk in Fanling.
“Flights were all on time, landed Wednesday morning and my luggage didn’t show up. Brian [O’Donovan], the local pro here, let me borrow his set yesterday. The airport actually hadn’t located my bags at that point – they didn’t know where they were – so I obviously was preparing myself mentally that I may have to play with a random set of clubs today.”
The Link Hong Kong Open is the seventh of nine elevated events on the Asian Tour that form a pathway onto the LIV Golf League for the season-ending Rankings champion.
- Copy with thanks Asian Tour
