Tom McKibbin brushed off his missed cut at last week’s Open Championship with a solid opening 68 at LIV Golf UK at a scorching JCB Golf and Country Club.
A healthy crowd lined the fairways and they were treated to a barrage of birdies to complement the festival like atmosphere, with McKibbin contributing four of them with just the lone dropped shot.
The Holywood man has been in fine form in his debut campaign on LIV Golf and is in position to contend once again for his maiden victory, he is three shots behind the trio of Joaquin Niemann, Branden Grace and Adrian Meronk on three-under-par.
McKibbin began from the 2nd tee and after easing int his round with four pars he birdied the par-4 6th and par-5 10th.
A great chance for birdie on the par-5 13th went begging but he responded in style, hitting it close on the par-3 14th to the tune of Macklemore on the aptly named ‘Party Hole’ and he duly converted.
His only blemish came on the par-3 17th but he rallied with a birdie on 18 before a chance on the first slid by to end his round.
With only two individual events and a team event remaining this season, the 22-year-old has thoroughly enjoyed his time on LIV Golf.
While he would love to win individually, he has secured three team titles with Jon Rahm’s Legion XIII and his team share the lead after the opening day here with Stinger and Torque on eleven-under.
“Yeah, the season has been great,” said McKibbin who has four top-7 finishes. “Sort of going into the start of it, I didn’t really know too much what to expect. I’d obviously watched a lot of it. But to be part of a team environment and something that was different to me has been a lot of fun, and to be able to play with these guys and play with some other amazing players has been really cool this year.
“It’s been great to be a part of it, and sort of a little bit sad that the season is ending soon.”
McKibbin is ranked 14th in the LIV league standings and has played far better this year than a world ranking of 144 suggests.
LIV Golf have applied for official world golf ranking points again under new CEO Scott O’Neill and while McKibbin may win this weekend he acknowledges that his world ranking could fall again. But it isn’t something he is too concerned about at the moment having made two major appearances this year and with an end of season run on the DP World Tour to come to climb the rankings again.
“I guess for me, I haven’t really dropped, like, significantly so much because it’s only my first year, and I’ve been lucky to play events as well that have had points. I haven’t really looked at too many other things yet.
“I think it was maybe hard for me anyway because the points that I was getting when I was playing, it was hard to move anyway. So I haven’t seen too much — obviously I’ve dropped a bit, but nothing too crazy, and haven’t really looked again. As Jon said, I’ve looked at Data Golf and things like that, but I haven’t really stressed over it too much yet.”
Things didn’t go as well for Smach GC’s Graeme McDowell who languishes in 42nd place on one-over after a 72 with his team second from bottom on level-par.
At the top, Niemann is hunting his fifth title of the season as he looks to cement his place at the summit of the season long standings.
The Chilean fired six birdies in a bogey free round of 65 as he looks to hold off the challenge of Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau in the season long race.
“It depends on the way you look at it. I think it’s fun. I think I’m on a really privileged situation to be on the top of the rankings and being chased by Jon and Bryson. It just makes me a better athlete.
“I like that pressure. try my best. I like playing like that.”
Niemann is joined by former Irish Open winner Adrian Meronk who won the opening event of the season in Riyadh, but has since struggled for form.
“Yeah, it’s nice to be in this position again, obviously getting off to a good start this season. There was a lot of high expectations after that, but unfortunately my form dropped a little bit. I was working a little bit on a few things in my swing and just didn’t feel very comfortable on the course.
“But finally I’m enjoying myself on the course and playing good golf again, which is quite exciting. It’s great to be back in this position, and I’m really looking forward to this weekend and to three more tournaments this year.”
Meanwhile, behind Niemann, Grace and Meronk, Lee Westwood and Bubba Watson rolled back the years as they treated the crowds to five-under rounds of 66 to lie in fourth alongside Carlos Ortiz of Mexico.
Scoring HERE