The Open Championship: Mixed bag for McKibbin after first round

Tom McKibbin says his first round at the 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush was something of a mixed bag.

The Holywood youngster, now playing on the LIV Golf Tour, shot a one over par 72, having tees off alongside Padraig Harrington in the first group at 6.35am.

He was 1-under at the turn, following an eagle three at the par 5 7th hole. However, a double bogey six at the 11th sent him down the pecking order.

But he’s feeling optimistic.

“A little bit of everything in there, a little bit of a good, a little bit of bad. Overall 1-over. Not great, but not bad. Overall not too annoyed but not happy. It was overall a very sort of up-and-down day,” he said.

“Obviously I was 2-over after three. I don't really feel like I hit too bad of a shot to sort of be in that position. I just missed the fairway on one and didn't have a good lie at all. I hit a good shot into three and came up a little bit short. Then I hit it down the middle of the fairway on four and it was in a divot. It was just not going my way.

“I hit a good bunker shot on five and made a birdie there, sort of 1-over after five isn't too bad. Then I started to play quite nicely after that. I only sort of struggled on the holes with the wind off the left. Besides that, it was okay.

FIRST TEE NERVES

McKibbin says he wasn’t affected by the special nature of playing in the very first group of his home Open Championship – even joking that Rory hitting out of bounds at the first hole in 2019 had made thing a bit more difficult.

“I think Rory's made that tee shot a lot scarier,” McKibbin smiled.

“That's all I could probably think about for the last three days. I wouldn't say I was too nervous. I just didn't really want to hit that bad of a shot. I was very happy to get it sort of underway. It was pretty cool to get out there first, sort of get those sort of nerves or a little bit of unsettlement out of the way early. Then to go out with two great players as well was good.

“It's amazing getting sort of clapped on every tee and green. It was pretty cool today, sort of the first experience of that kind. They're out there wanting you to do the best that you can, and it's sort of great to have that support.”