Tom McKibbin what's in the bag 2025

Tom McKibbin romped to a wire-to-wire victory in the Hong Kong Open, securing spots in both The Masters and The Open in the process.

The Northern Irishman’s winning total of 27-under-par was the lowest in the tournament’s history, five better than Patrick Reed last year, with Ian Poulter and Jose Maria Olazabal also reaching 22 under when they won in 2010 and 2001, respectively.

And the seven-shot gap between McKibbin and Peter Uihlein, who was second, equalled the largest margin of victory.

"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."

Having set a course record with a 10-under-par 60 in the first round, it was a fitting display of almost flawless golf.

Any hopes Uihlein had disappeared in a quadruple bogey eight on the par-4 14th, and the American ended the day on 20 under.

MJ Maguire, meanwhile, began the day just a shot adrift, and had kept in touch over the front nine, but could do nothing as his rival rattled off four birdies in five holes after the turn. He finished alongside Japan’s Tomoyo Ikemura and South African Louis Oosthuizen a shot further back in third.

Who is Tom McKibbin?

McKibbin was born in Belfast on December 19, 2002 and learnt the game at Holywood Golf Club, the course where Rory McIlroy was a child prodigy. He was the world junior champion in 2015 and in January 2020 he lost to Jediah Morgan in the final of the Australian Amateur.

He turned professional in April 2021 at the age of 18. 

McKibbin played on the Challenge Tour in 2022. He was in contention to win the Cape Town Open in February and finished in a tie for third. He also finished solo second at the Irish Challenge at the K Club in July. In November, at the Challenge Tour Grand Final, McKibbin shot a final-round 66 to finish tied-sixth and lift him to 10th place in the Challenge Tour Rankings, gaining his card to play on the DP World Tour. During the season he enjoyed eight top-10 finishes. He is the youngest golfer from Ireland since Rory McIlroy to hold a DP World Tour card

In February 2023, McKibbin held the 36-hole lead at the Singapore Classic. In only his second start, at the South African Open, he recorded a hole in one. He finished in a tie for 18th place at the Joburg Open in his first appearance. 

In June 2023 he won the European Open. He started the week ranked 335th in the world and 69th in the Race to Dubai. The win took him to 23rd in the Race to Dubai and 162nd in the world rankings.

In 2024 he lost out to Marcel Siem in a playoff at the Italian Open.

In January 2025 he ignored the advice of Rory McIlroy and announced he was joining LIV Golf. He began the Hong Kong Open in 109th place in the world rankings.

He averages 304.97 yards from the tee, hits 55.53% of fairways and finds 70.26% of greens in regulation. He gets up and down from the sand 68.29% of the time, averages 29 putts per round and has a stroke average of 70.45.

What's in Tom McKibbin's golf bag?

Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond Max (8.5 Degrees)

3-Wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (15 Degrees)

Irons: Callaway 2025 Apex UT Utility Iron (3), Callaway Apex Ai150 (4), Callaway X-Forged (5-PW)

Wedges: Callaway Opus SP (50° & 54°), Titleist Vokey SM10 (60°)

Putter: Odyssey Ai-One Rossie S Prototype

Ball: Titleist Pro V1