Tom McKibbin, the 20-year old Holywood native, has secured a massively impressive maiden victory on the DP World Tour, winning the European Open in Germany by two shots this afternoon.
He is the youngest Irishman to win on the DP World Tour since Rory McIlroy back in 2009.
Making only his 26th start in the European Tour, McKibbin went into the final round in a tie for the lead. However, there were five other men level with him on six-under par, meaning a final day charge was by no means guaranteed.
The Holywood native was exemplary throughout today. He would take a two shot lead early in the round.
.@tommckibbin8 with a dart at the 7th and now leads by two 🤩#PEO23 pic.twitter.com/jutoqYE1B6
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) June 4, 2023
However, the challenge continued to come from the rest of the field.
Maximilian Kieffer and Marcel Siem managed to reel him back in, with McKibbin tied for the lead with four to play.
A birdie on the 15th would then give him the solo lead once again and left him in a strong position to go and win the tournament.
Three to play. Leads by one. @tommckibbin8 is looking to enter the winners circle at just 20 years old 👀#PEO23 pic.twitter.com/5c6wPcGue6
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) June 4, 2023
Tom McKibbin secures first win on DP World Tour in style
He led by just one shot when teeing up on the par-five 18th, knowing that a par would likely be enough to secure the title.
He did far more than that. After hitting a questionable drive, McKibbin would hit a stunning approach show from behind a tree to land the ball within 15 feet of the hole.
WHAT A SHOT! 🤯
From over 200 yards, @tommckibbin8 hits it to 7ft at the last! The closest approach into the final hole all day.#PEO23 pic.twitter.com/IUSwauWAUT— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) June 4, 2023
While he would miss the resulting eagle putt, the birdie was enough to clinch the title with two shots to spare.
.@tommckibbin8 wins the Porsche European Open 🏆#PEO23 pic.twitter.com/OJo7wMRt0e
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) June 4, 2023
Speaking to Sky Sports after the victory, McKibbin summed up what the win meant.
It's pretty amazing, it was a great day.
It's just nice to go out there and out a really nice round together...
I guess (I learned) that I'm good enough to win. I always thought I was, but to prove it today was pretty special.
I guess I've learned a lot from failures, missing cuts, and missing things ever so slightly. To take all those things I've learned and put them into play today was really nice...
It was probably one of my best (on the 18th). It was sort of tricky, but it sort of wasn't. I was trying to hit it to the right edge of the green and if it turned over I knew the water wasn't in play.
It looked really good on camera I'm sure, but it was sort of the easier shot than lining it up and hitting it over the water...
It probably hasn't sunk in yet, it won't until tomorrow. To have my Dad here, he comes most weeks, is pretty special.
To win in front of him has been pretty amazing.
Well deserved. Along with the trophy, he also picked up a winner's cheque of €317,000 and will vault up this season's order of merit.
Having turned pro back in 2021 as an 18-year old, playing on the Challenge Tour in 2022 before earning card for the main tour in 2023.
His first taste of competing at a tournament came back in February, where he topped the leaderboard after two rounds at the Singapore Classic. However, a mixed weekend would ultimately see him finish in a tie for 12th.
There were no such issues on this occasion, with McKibbin becoming the youngest Irish winner on the tour since fellow Holywood man Rory McIlroy did so 14 years ago.
Just two boys from Holywood Golf Club 🤩@tommckibbin8 is tied for the lead on -6 at the Porsche European Open.@McIlroyRory is tied for the lead on -6 at the Memorial Tournament. #PEO23 pic.twitter.com/ibLm8ZYvNK
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) June 4, 2023
A star in the making.
A winner during his debut season on the DP World Tour, we're already excited to see what the future holds for Tom McKibbin.
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