Tom McKibbin Chooses LIV Golf, Wins Hong Kong Open
Tom McKibbin made headlines by joining LIV Golf instead of the PGA Tour, a move that seemed to limit his chances for major championships. LIV Golf does not award World Ranking points, making it harder to qualify for major tournaments.
Victory at the Hong Kong Open
Despite the challenges, McKibbin focused on limited starts in other tours, including the Asian Tour, where many LIV players competed. He entered the final round leading by one and then won by an impressive seven strokes.
"Very excited to go back and play my third Open, it will be very, very cool," McKibbin said. "And to have that drive down Magnolia Lane for the first time ever, it will be even more special. You know, I think sort of historic tournaments like this deserve those spots, and yeah, it’s great to sort of take advantage of those."
Earned Invitations to Majors
The 22-year-old Northern Irish golfer shot a final-round 63 and finished the tournament 27 under par after opening with a 60 on Thursday. Thanks to recent changes in qualifying criteria, his win at the Hong Kong Open earned him invitations to the 2026 Masters and the Open Championship.
American Peter Uihlein finished solo second in the tournament.
Author’s summary: Tom McKibbin's bold choice of LIV Golf led to a dominant Hong Kong Open win and secured him Masters and Open Championship invites under updated qualification rules.