The Open at Portrush will be 'special'
Tom McKibbin expects that competing in the 153rd Open at Royal Portrush will be something he will remember for the rest of his life. The 22-year-old from Northern Ireland was in the field last year at Royal Troon, as well as for the US Open in 2024 and US PGA last month, but feels playing a major so close to home will be a different experience."I've played here however many hundreds of times, it's somewhere I've come up and played since I was 10-years-old," he said of Royal Portrush."To play a major championship on this golf course is going to be pretty special, the biggest event I'll ever have played in under that pressure and atmosphere."McKibbin was not present when the course last staged the championship and Shane Lowry was the winner of the Claret Jug in 2019. "It's something not many people get to say, that they've played an Open in their home country," he added. "To play it here on one of the best courses in the world, it's going to be pretty special. "To be here and be playing will be something that I'll probably remember forever."
McKibbin secured his place in the field through his 18th place in last year's Race To Dubai but has since joined LIV Golf where he is a team-mate of the likes of Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton. There are still seven events left on that circuit this season, while McKibbin also plans to play on some DP World Tour stops before the end of the year. Next up, however, is a US Open qualifier on Monday, 2 June. Known as 'golf's longest day', hopefuls at 12 courses across 10 venues will play 36 holes in an effort to secure their place in the field at Oakmont in Pennsylvania from 12-15 June."It's a very hard day, 36 holes, you have to play very good," said McKibbin who will be playing at Duke University in North Carolina. "There's not a lot of spots. Hopefully I can put together two good rounds and make it there."The game feels nice, just trying to get through each event and play the best I can."
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