Pro golf’s newest Holywood sensation Tom McKibbin admits he’s under no pressure being likened as the next Rory McIlroy as he makes his professional debut later today (THURS) at the European Tour’s Tenerife Open.
The 18-year-old McKibbin will tee-up at 1.17pm Irish time in the company of England’s James Morrison and Spaniard Alfredo Garcia-Heredia.
McKibbin had intended to turn pro after next month’s Walker Cup showdown in Florida but disappointingly failed to qualify for the GB & I team and instead has brought forward a decision to join the play-for-pay ranks.
McKibbin was aged just four when McIlroy turned pro in the weeks after the 2007 Walker Cup at Royal County Down and in the years that followed McKibbin joined Holywood Golf Club in suburban Belfast.
Golf’s newest professional in Tom McKibbin turning pro this week at the Tenerife Open
He became friends with McIlroy and would travel to tournaments with his father, Robin and who is with him this week in Tenerife, to watch McIlroy compete.
And at age 18-years, four-months and 10 days McKibbin will be remarkably just six days younger than McIlroy when he made his pro debut at the 2007 British Masters.
“Rory’s been great at offering advice and he’s given me his opinion in turning pro and that will stay with me, so I am really thankful for that,” said McKibbin.
“Every time I have asked him a question, he’s always been very honest with me so it’s that. It’s just awesome to be able to get to ask him questions and learn from him.
Rory McIlroy with Tom McKibbin in 2015 in Dubai
“I also find it a massive compliment having been compared with Rory and it means I must be doing something right to be compared with him though in saying that I have tried to listen or read that talk and just do my own thing.
“Also, my goals are the same as Rory when he turned pro as I’d love to be winning Majors and become World Number One – that would be an awesome achievement.
“Those would be some long-term ambitions, to be the best.
“I’m probably just going to keep all that to myself (conversations with Rory), sorry”.
Though a big difference between the two, and not that it really matters, is that McKibbon, and despite his many wins in the amateur ranks, turns pro without capturing any of the major Ireland Golf Union titles.
And there is the bitter pill McKibbin had to swallow in not making the GB & I Walker Cup side and despite the pleasure in joining McIlroy and his father, Gerry late in 2019 of playing the ultra-exclusive host Seminole course in West Palm Beach.
“I was disappointed not to make the Walker Cup team, not disappointed, a bit more confused to be totally honest”, he said.
“I don’t really care now, I’m doing better things. I was disappointed for a day. I played a lot of events when I could have sat at home. I don’t really care now, it’s over with and I’m on to better things now.
“So, I’ve got no regrets leaving the amateur ranks to turn professional.
“Since I arrived here in Tenerife, I played nine holes Monday, 18-holes on Tuesday and now nine holes today and while the course is quite hilly, it’s really nice to play while the greens are firm which is nice.
“So, I’m already feeling comfortable”.
And keeping in the Holywood family, caddying for McKibbin will be one of McIlroy’s closest friends in Ricky McCormmick while he’s signed with JMC Sports and will be managed by another of McIlroy’s good friends in Mitchell Tweedie, in charge of player management at JMC.
“I’ve played hundreds of rounds at Holywood with Ricky, so he knows my game very well and I just thought that would be the best for me this week, so have someone like Ricky on the bag,” he said.
“I also have Mitchell as my manager, who’s another friend of Rory’s, so we’re all in good company.”
McKibbin will join fellow Irish Cormac Sharvin, Jonathan Caldwell, Niall Kearney and Paul Dunne teeing-up in Tenerife.
