Tom McKibbin reflects on his first round at the 153rd Open Championship held at Royal Portrush, describing his experience as a mixture of highs and lows. The young golfer from Holywood, currently competing on the LIV Golf Tour, finished the day with a score of one over par 72 after teeing off early in the first group alongside Padraig Harrington at 6:35 AM.
McKibbin started strong, reaching one under par at the turn, buoyed by an eagle on the par 5 7th hole. However, his momentum shifted after a double bogey on the 11th hole. Despite the ups and downs, he maintains a hopeful outlook on his performance, stating, “Overall, not too annoyed but not happy. It was a very sort of up-and-down day.”
Reflecting on his round, McKibbin noted, “I was 2-over after three. I don’t really feel like I hit too bad of a shot to be in that position.” He encountered challenges, such as hitting a divot on the fairway of the fourth hole. Nevertheless, his resolve showed when he birdied the fifth hole with a well-executed bunker shot, leaving him at one over after five.
As he made his debut in his home Open Championship, McKibbin addressed the nerves that come with such a significant event but found comfort in the support from the crowd, saying, “It’s amazing getting sort of clapped on every tee and green. They’re wanting you to do the best you can, and it’s great to have that support.”
His light-hearted comment about Rory McIlroy’s tee shot in 2019 underscored his ability to manage the pressure: “I wouldn’t say I was too nervous. I just didn’t really want to hit that bad of a shot.”
With valuable experience gained from this first round, McKibbin looks forward to improving as the tournament progresses, demonstrating the spirit and determination essential for success in such a prestigious event.