Rory McIlroy’s protégé Tom McKibbin punches major tickets after Hong Kong demolition

Rory McIlroy’s protégé Tom McKibbin produced the performance of his life to claim a dominant, wire-to-wire victory at the Link Hong Kong Open, smashing tournament records and booking his place at both The Masters and The Open Championship in 2026.

The 22-year-old Northern Irishman — now a key member of Jon Rahm’s Legion XIII LIV Golf team — fired a blistering final-round 63 at the historic Hong Kong Golf Club to close out a record 27-under-par 253 total, the lowest 72-hole score in the event’s storied history and matching its largest ever margin of victory.

That wasn't his only record of the week either as McKibbin also fired a course-record 60 at Fanling on Thursday. 

It’s McKibbin’s first victory of 2025 and his second as a professional (adding to his 2023 Porsche European Open win on the DP World Tour) but perhaps more importantly, it marks a defining moment in his young career — one that will take him down Magnolia Lane for the first time and back to The Open for a third straight appearance.

"Yeah, it was obviously amazing," said McKibbin.

"I played some of the best golf I have probably ever played. 

"So, yeah, to have that sort of golf and to shoot those scores around here is pretty special."

From controversy to redemption

McKibbin’s path to this victory has been anything but straightforward. 

Once widely tipped as Northern Ireland’s next star under the wing of McIlroy, he made headlines last season when he turned down a PGA Tour card earned via the DP World Tour Rankings — opting instead to join Rahm’s newly-formed Legion XIII in the LIV Golf League.

It was a move that drew sharp criticism from many, including McIlroy himself, who publicly voiced his disappointment. 

But while his debut LIV season in 2025 didn’t yield an individual win, McKibbin quickly proved his worth, helping Rahm’s team to four regular-season victories before clinching the season-ending Team Championship.

This week in Hong Kong, however, McKibbin stepped out of the shadows — producing a career-best performance that silenced critics and solidified his place among golf’s most exciting young stars.

A career-defining week

McKibbin began Sunday with a slender one-shot lead over MJ Maguire but wasted no time pulling away. 

Birdies at 1, 3 and 8 set the tone before a relentless back nine charge, with further birdies at 10, 11, 13, 14 and 16. 

A lone bogey at the last — only his third of the entire week — couldn’t dampen what was a masterclass in control and composure.

American Peter Uihlein finished second after a 68, seven shots adrift, while Tomoyo Ikemura (65), Louis Oosthuizen (67) and Maguire (70) tied for third.

"It means a lot," said McKibbin.

"With a tournament with so much history behind it, and great players that have won this before, to have the scoring record is pretty special — something that will definitely live with me forever."

McKibbin’s winning total obliterated the previous record of 22-under par held jointly by José María Olazábal (2002), Ian Poulter (2010) and Patrick Reed (2024), and it matched the biggest winning margin of seven strokes — a mark previously set by Bernhard Langer (1991) and Bill Brask (1984).

A ticket to Augusta and St Andrews

For the first time in the event’s history, this year’s Hong Kong Open champion earned automatic invitations to The Masters and The Open, and McKibbin made it count.

"Very excited to go back and play my third Open — it will be very, very cool," said McKibbin, who earned a tidy $360,000 for his week's efforts.

"And to have that drive down Magnolia Lane for the first time ever, it will be even more special. 

"You know, I think sort of historic tournaments like this deserve those spots, and yeah, it’s great to take advantage of those."

For a player who grew up idolising McIlroy, the prospect of competing alongside him at Augusta now seems poetic — a symbolic moment in what could become one of golf’s most intriguing generational stories.

Uihlein left to rue ‘quadruple’ disaster

Runner-up Uihlein was left to count the cost of a nightmare hole when a quadruple-bogey eight on the par-4 14th ended his slim hopes of a comeback.

"It was a bit of a mixed bag today — had a tough quad out there," said Uihlein, who represents Bubba Watson's RangeGoats GC on LIV Golf. 

"Actually, I had both a quadruple and a triple bogey this week, so to still finish second despite that, I’ll take it.

"I love the course, love the event, and I love coming here, for LIV. 

"It is honestly one of my favourite stops of the year. I will definitely keep coming back as long as I am playing."

What’s next

McKibbin’s emphatic triumph cements his reputation as one of golf’s brightest young talents heading into 2026. 

His breakthrough win not only validates his controversial career choices but also positions him as a genuine contender on golf’s biggest stages.

The Asian Tour and International Series now move on to the Moutai Singapore Open next week, but all eyes will remain on McKibbin — the man who went from McIlroy’s apprentice to major-bound record breaker.

"It means everything," concluded McKibbin.

"To win an event like this, with this much history, it’s something I’ll never forget."