'Frustrated' McKibbin set for early Open exit

BBC News

18-07-2025

Northern Ireland's Tom McKibbin said he was frustrated with "silly mistakes" as looks set to miss the cut at the Open.After an opening round of one over at Royal Portrush, McKibbin birdied the opening hole on Friday but bogeyed the eighth, 11th and 14th to move to four over. A birdie on the 15th gave him hope of making the cut, which had fluctuated between one and two over par, but three closing pars left him on three over for the tournament."It's been a frustrating last two days. I've played some really nice golf," McKibbin told BBC Sport NI."I think it's the best I've played in the four majors I've played in. There was just a few silly mistakes."McKibbin, 22, said he made a "silly mistake" on the eighth hole when he overshot the green and his round never really recovered from that mistake. "It's very frustrating with the way I think I've been playing. I birdied the first and made some really nice chances, and to drop those shots that I didn't think were too poor of a shot, they were more of a mistake, that's what more frustrating than anything. "It was a great week, the whole way through with the crowds and everything but it wasn't meant to be."