Tom McKibbin has officially qualified for The Open after a fabulous Italian Open performance, but how will he perform on an even bigger stage?
Following Tom McKibbin’s runner-up finish after losing a playoff to German Marcel Siem at the Italian Open, he has booked his ticket to the Open Championship at the Royal Troon in July.
McKibbin appeared not to have given himself a chance of winning the Italian Open after his final round, but as the hours ticked on following his round of 65, he remained at the top of the leaderboard.
And one part of his game could prove to be make or break as he tees it up in Scotland next month.
Why Tom McKibbin could excel at Royal Troon
When looking at the key stats so far on the DP World Tour this season, McKibbin is lying in fourth for greens in regulation (GIR) amongst his peers on the European circuit.
Such accuracy in approach play could be what makes the difference next month when it comes to plotting your way around a tough track like Royal Troon, as the difficult conditions could make life hard for those unaccustomed to the links style of play.
This is highlighted in what former pro and current TV analyst Smylie Kaufman had to say when talking about the course and the infamous eighth-hole ‘postage stamp’, which caused him a lot of trouble.
The pro-turned-commentator mentioned how on any given day the hole could play completely differently, depending on weather conditions in Troon. “It’s not about distance, it’s about course management, it’s about shaping a shot, it’s about touch and feel,” Kaufman said.
Given McKibbin’s impressive GIR statistics so far in what is only his second full-time season on the DP World Tour, the 21-year-old Northern Irishman could well be equipped to handle the challenges that such a difficult hole may pose.
McKibbin could also be better equipped for the changing conditions of links golf than many of his American counterparts, who often don’t have to face the howling wind and rain that may present itself in an Open Championship, even in July.
When is the Open Championship 2024?
The third major of the year tees off at Royal Troon Golf Club in South Ayrshire, Scotland on Thursday the 18th of July, and culminates on Sunday the 21st, when we will have a new winner of golf’s oldest Championship will be named Champion golfer of the year.
156 golfers will take to the links over the course of the four days to win the Claret Jug and secure over £12 million in prize money.
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