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Belfast Telegraph
4 days ago
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Tom McKibbin vents his frustration after missing first Major cut of his career
'Not great. A little bit annoyed. Yeah, a little bit p****d off,' he opined bluntly after firing a two-over second-round 73 to finish the week at three-over-par, two shots too many for the cut line. You could hardly blame him, given he started the day so positively with a birdie at the first, but a double-bogey at the eighth after finding trouble over the green and two more bogeys at the par-fours 11 and 14 were enough to do the damage. He reinvigorated his hopes of making the weekend with a birdie at the 15th to get back to three-over, with the cut at that point threatening to move to two-over, but three pars to finish just wasn't good enough. 'The whole week was good, sort of positive,' he continued. 'I thought I played all right, just a few sort of stupid mistakes that, looking back, I wouldn't really hit different. 'The shot was fine, just sort of missed in the wrong spot or got the club slightly wrong. 'Overall, I actually thought I played quite nicely, just a few silly mistakes.' The Open at Royal Portrush: What happened in 2019 It is another crucial bit of Major experience for the 22-year-old, who has four more events on the LIV Tour to play in before he finishes his season with some DP World Tour invites, even if this was the first he has played where it only lasted for two rounds. He will take plenty of confidence from a strong showing on the greens, where he ranked fourth in strokes gained putting, and how he battled through some punishing weather but, ultimately, it wasn't enough to get him in for the weekend. 'I think that's what's probably most annoying. This is probably the best I've played out of them all,' McKibbin fumed. 'Just so many like stupid errors, just pins at the back of the green, hitting over the green. It's just where there's nothing really wrong with the shot. So, I think that's what's a little bit frustrating.' Meanwhile, if this was Darren Clarke's final appearance at a Major, then it was a great one to go out on, and he gave himself a chance of making the cut even if he did end up missing the number by a considerable distance. The 56-year-old looked visibly emotional as he walked up towards the 18th grandstand to round out a second consecutive three-over 74 to end the week at six-over, but he will not forget holing a 56-footer for birdie on the 10th that fostered hope that he might do something special. In the end, though, five bogeys sunk him, including at the 13th and 18th after the birdie at 10, and it's a missed cut for the Dungannon man. Time will tell, but it could very well be his last in this hallowed event.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Frustrated' McKibbin set for early Open exit
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."
Belfast Telegraph
5 days ago
- Climate
- Belfast Telegraph
The Open: New leader hits birdie blitz as Rory McIlroy insists he 'can challenge' after keeping dream alive
Key updates 'We love you Darren' Getting the chop: Big names set to miss the cut McKibbin faces nerves wait to learn cut fate Rory says he can 'go on a run' to challenge this weekend Bryson makes the weekend with stunning 65 Friday weather forecast Round two tee times 4 minutes ago An ark just floated past the media centre That means the rain is back and it is hammering down in biblical proportions again. I really don't know how else to describe it, it is absolutely chucking it down and while it might be a short shower that last 10-15 minutes, it's really going to make things miserable out there for the players. Let's see how it affects them... 8 minutes ago Adam McKendry 'I feel really comfortable here': Clubhouse leader Brian Harman, who is at -8 after a second round 65 On the similarities between Hoylake and Portrush:"I feel really comfortable over here. I'm comfortable driving it. They're very different golf courses but the golf is similar. You've got to be able to flight your golf ball, you've got to know how far everything's going, then you can't get frustrated. You're going to get bad breaks, you're going to end up in funny spots where it doesn't seem fair and you just have to kind of outlast that stuff. Although the golf courses are different, the style of golf is very similar." His approach for Saturday:"I'll approach the weekend the same way (as 2023). The only thing I'm really worried about is the first tee ball tomorrow and then I'll try to hit the next one up there close to the flag. If not, go to the second hole. It's a very boring approach that I take. I'm not trying to be heroic or do anything crazy. I know that I've got the game to do it, and it's just a matter of executing and staying in my own head. I would love to have a similar weekend (to 2023) and just play great the whole way through. There's going to be challenges. This is a hard golf course. The pins have been in really, really tough spots, and you've really got to think your way around it. Inevitably you're going to mis-hit some shots and end up in spots you don't want to be in, and the way you handle that will determine the outcome of the tournament for sure." 10 minutes ago Gareth Hanna Fitzpatrick doing a Lowry? It's now FOUR consecutive birdies to start to the back nine for the Englishman who has opened up a two-shot lead at the top. He's now six under par for the day. A couple more birdies in his final five holes and he could yet match Shane's Saturday 63 from 2019. 18 minutes ago 'We love you Darren' A single fan's voice can be heard after a loud and lengthy round of applause, whoops and whistles subsides when Clarke reaches the green for what will be the final time this week. The 2011 champion is very well-liked by Northern Ireland's golfing public, and they're making sure he knows it. The man who now gives his name to the 9th hole on the Dunluce Links, is also remembered for beating Tiger Woods in the final of the 2000 WGC World Matchplay. He closes out his week with a bogey to finish +6, but these fans have enjoyed watching him play one more time. NEW SOLO LEADER Matt Fitzpatrick is your new leader as he takes advantage of the short par-five 12th by hitting it in two and safely two-putting for the birdie that takes him to -9 and one clear of Brian Harman and Haotong Li! Over on the 18th green, as a half full stand awaits Darren Clarke, there was a gasp and a round of applause as the leaderboard was updated to send Fitzpatrick top. 28 minutes ago Gareth Hanna Haotong joins clubhouse Li'd Haotong Li matches yesterday's 67 to tie Brian Harman 's clubhouse lead of eight under par. Unfortunately for them, it looks like Matt Fitzpatrick is about to go one shot clear as he's on the par five 12th in two. 30 minutes ago Flag hunting Almost literally for Dustin Johnson as he takes aim with his second shot on the par-four 18th, it hits the green hard and bounces up... and hits the flag, dropping down a foot from the hole! Sometimes you get the breaks and that was certainly one of them - that will be a tap-in birdie for the two-time Major winner and he'll be in for the weekend at level-par! 34 minutes ago Gareth Hanna Tommy loves Portrush And Portrush loves Tommy Fleetwood (-1) Tommy Fleetwood on Twitter / X Privilege to play in front of the home crowds the last two days with their hero. Better day today for me and looking forward to a big push this weekend! @TheOpen Tommy Fleetwood (@TommyFleetwood1) July 18, 2025 External contentWhen displaying external content, data is transferred to third parties. 35 minutes ago Gareth Hanna Not to be for Darren Clarke He gave it a good rattle at the 17th to be fair to him. From 'other', he managed to get his approach shot just off the back edge, and his chip was close put came up a couple of feet short. At +5 with one to play, it's looking like there's just one final reception at 18 left to close out his tournament. 35 minutes ago Doing things Reit Welcome to the front page of the leaderboard, Kristoffer Reitan. The Norwegian has just birdied the par-five 12th, as most are to be fair, to get to -4 and knock Rory McIlroy off the big scoreboard in front of us in the media centre. It's been a fine round for the 27-year-old, who is the reigning Challenge Tour champion and won the Belgian Open earlier this year, as he's currently on track for a bogey-free six-under round having carded an eagle and four birdies. 39 minutes ago Adam McKendry Revelation of the week: There's a players' barber in the locker room After shooting a three-under 68 on Friday to get to five-under-par for the tournament, Denmark's Rasmus Højgaard was asked (among other things, of course) whether he'd had a midweek haircut. "I did actually. I took the flow away. It got a bit too long, and I sort of thought, no, this is the time. So I managed to get a haircut on Wednesday. So far it's actually worked out," he said. Did he go into town to get it done? "There's a barber in the locker room. I put my name down on Monday and had to postpone it for Tuesday, and then I couldn't find Tuesday. Then I had to do it Wednesday, and I finally did it. It's been working out." Life of luxury, isn't it. 43 minutes ago Gareth Hanna Clarke's birdie battle Two holes to play and two birdies needed for Darren to get to the +3 'maybe, but unlikely' pile. Considering his tee-shot at 17 has gone right and been classed as landing in the 'other' section of the course - as opposed to normal headings like 'fairway' or 'bunker' - we can assume it's not in great shape. 45 minutes ago Gareth Hanna Three-way tie at the top And it's a European who makes his way to the -8 alongside Harman and Li, as Matt Fitzpatrick continues the perfect start to his back nine, adding birdie at 11. With the par five 12th to come, we could soon see a new outright leader. 46 minutes ago Adam McKendry 'I'm proud of my Irish heritage': Keegan Bradley thrilled to play well on 'home soil' On shooting a four-under 67: "That was fun. Played really, really well. I've been playing so poorly here over the last couple years. It feels nice to put a nice round together, nice two days together. I played nice yesterday as well. But what a fun day." On going bogey-free:"I really am proud of that. Like I said, I've struggled here, so to be in contention, to have played the way I did today means a lot. I never know what I'm going to get when I come over here, so this is a nice bonus." On his Irish heritage:"(My family is from) Cork. I'm really proud of my heritage to be from here. I played the Irish Open here. I always dreamt of playing in the Irish Open; I played it at this course (in 2012) when I made the Tour. It's exciting to be back." 49 minutes ago Gareth Hanna Getting the chop: Big names set to miss the cut Padraig Harrington finished up nine over par for the tournament after a 76 today and bows out for the week. He's not the only big name that fans will miss out on seeing over the weekend. Adam Scott 's eight over par round left him tying Harrington's overall score, with US Ryder Cup star Patrick Reed just one shot better off at +8. Needing a miracle back nine to get through, sitting at +6 at the turn, the same score at which Louis Oosthuizen bows out. Stewart Cink finished at +4, which is sufficient to secure the weekend off. The fighters Our own Darren Clarke is at +5 with two holes to play. Two birdies required to give himself any chance and get in alongside McKibbin at +3 - which has now drifted to a tie for 80th, by the way. Patrick Cantlay is at +3 but he has five holes to go to creep up another one. Ryan Fox (thru 10) and Collin Morikawa (thru 7) are at +4 and need to improve. 50 minutes ago Commentator's curse Immediately after bigging up Chris Gotterup, he goes and bogeys the par-four 14th after what appears to be a sculled chip through the green and drops a shot to fall back to -4. Still, if he can rally and finish strongly then he still has a chance of tying the low round of the day. Today 04:24 PM 'My mind went numb': Shaun Norris on making a TEN on the par-four fourth on his way to missing the cut at +5 What happened:"I hit a very poor tee shot, the first one. Then proceeded to hit the next one straight in the bunker. Now I'm trying to chase something, trying to make the best score out of it. Unfortunately the fourth shot caught the lip, then I stuck with the same club and tried to do the same. After that, the mind sort of went a little bit numb. But it happens. Golf is golf, there's nothing you can do about it. Made a number, and I had to accept it and carry on." On bouncing back with birdie at the fifth:"You've just got to accept it. Plain and simple, you've got to accept it. There's nothing you can do about it, the past is the past. I knew that it happened, I made the number, I made the 10 on the hole. I just said, okay, now instead of making two or three or four birdies coming back, I've now got to make five or six. I was happy with the way I fought back after that. Unfortunately I didn't make as many putts as I would have liked to, but that's how it goes." Today 04:23 PM Gareth Hanna Mickelson cruising through to weekend Barring disaster, Phil should be here for the weekend after this. He drives it just off the front edge of the 17th and sets up a birdie putt inside five feet. That would get him back to level par for the tournament and resting easy. Edit: Knocked that in for birdie, parred the last to get in at E. See you tomorrow, Phil! Today 04:18 PM Gareth Hanna Another birdie coming up for Shane? Lowry's 50-yard pitch at the par five seventh is good - and sets up a 'should-make' that could take him up alongside Rory at -3. Playing partner Scottie Scheffler, meanwhile, has a similar length putt to go within one. Ominous from the world number one. Edit: Scheffler's in! Never in doubt. Slight right to left break and it's right in the middle. Four under through seven and one behind the leaders. But Shane's putt is always left and that's a big miss. Stays at -2. Today 04:17 PM 'I'm enjoying the course a lot more than six years ago': Francesco Molinari, who has made the cut at +1 "I'm enjoying the week here more than 2019 just because it's a lot, I think, to come back as a defending champion. I'm enjoying definitely the course a lot more this time than six years ago. Apart from that, I'm probably playing better than I did that week, I just need to make a few more putts." Load more Live Blog Software
Irish Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Tom McKibbin 'p***ed off' not to make Portrush cut in The Open
Local favourite Tom McKibbin is likely to miss out on the weekend in Portrush by just one shot. Not surprisingly, the 22-year-old is unhappy not to make the cut for the first time in a major championship, although this was just his third one. McKibbin, who hails from Newtownabbey, had high hopes coming into the championship with the backing of the home support and with a lucrative start to his LIV career already banked. Getting his second round underway on 1-over par, McKibbin birdied the first to get off to a great start but a double bogey on 9 derailed him and dropped shots followed on 11 and 14. He did battle back with a birdie on 15, but he couldn't find another over his closing holes and a 73 is now expected to leave him just on the wrong side of the cut mark. "Not great," he remarked afterwards. "A little bit annoyed. Yeah, a little bit p***ed off. I think that's what's probably most annoying (to lose out by one shot). "This is probably the best I've played out of them all, just so many like stupid errors, just pins at the back of the green, hitting over the green. It's just where there's nothing really wrong with the shot. So I think that's what's a little bit frustrating. "The crowd supporting me the whole way round was amazing. The whole week was good, sort of positive. I thought I played all right, just a few sort of stupid mistakes that looking back, I wouldn't really hit different. The shot was fine, just sort of missed in the wrong spot or got the club slightly wrong. "Overall, I actually thought I played quite nicely, just a few silly mistakes. It's very hard obviously when you don't really play much links golf, and then you start playing it two days or three days before a tournament. Besides that, all good. I felt like I've been playing nicely." If he takes anything from the two rounds it is hitting those tee shots on the first. He was with Padraig Harrington in the first group out on Thursday. Along with Darren Clarke, McKibbin and Harrington will put the feet up to watch the weekend action. "I've hit two decent ones down there that I think now going forward," said McKibbin. "I don't think there will be many harder tee shots going forward from that. After that, nothing really too much." He only has three tournaments left on the LIV tour this season. "I'll give those all I have," he said, having already earned over €4m in prize money having decided to join the Saudi-backed tour rather than the PGA Tour. "I'll play a little bit of DP as well coming towards the end of the year as well. Gearing up for them." Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts.
Belfast Telegraph
5 days ago
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
NI golfer offers home to abandoned pup named after him
'Tom' is one of a litter of malnourished puppies that were dumped in Co Antrim. They have been nursed back to health and named after golfers who are playing in The Open this week. The six crossbreed pooches were found in a carrier bag in the Broughshane area after a local dog walker spotted one of the abandoned pups who escaped. The Dogs Trust in Ballymena was called and took the pups to their rehoming centre, where they found all of them to be underfed. Following weeks of care, staff at the dog welfare charity have brought the puppies back to full health and named them after top golfers at The Open tournament in Portrush. One of the collie-crossbreeds, Rory, named after Rory McIlroy, has already found a home while Padraig (after Padraig Harrington), Shane (after Shane Lowry), Tom (after McKibbin) and Justin (after Justin Rose) are still looking for a permanent place. After learning about the puppies' plight, McKibbin reached out to Dogs Trust. He told UTV: "My girlfriend and mum were sitting watching and they were listening and seen the Dogs Trust and thought it would be cool to give a dog a home..." And if Tom walks away from Portrush with both the Claret Jug and a new pup, he said 'that would be pretty special, it would certainly be a week to remember anyway'. The Open: International visitors share views on Portrush Sarah Park, assistant manager at Dogs Trust Ballymena, said: "We honestly never saw this coming when we named them this way, we are overjoyed and we can't wait for Tom to go to his new home with Tom." She added: 'It is truly shocking that these beautiful boys were discarded in a bag like rubbish. 'Thank goodness they were found when they were, or the outcome could have been very different. 'They are now a healthy weight and sweet, playful puppies that are increasing in confidence every day. 'With golf fever hitting Northern Ireland this week with The Open in Portrush, we thought it would be lovely to give them inspiring names as we know they will go on to achieve great things in life.' The dogs can be found for adoption at Dogs Trust Ballymena's website at The charity is the UK's largest dog support service caring for over 11,000 dogs every year between their 21 rehoming centres across the UK as well as Dublin.
