‘Being compared to Rory, is something I have obviously heard for a while now’

Journeys: Tom McKibbin

Growing up and playing golf in Northern Ireland was pretty good. I started playing when I was seven with a friend who I used to play football with in the street. His dad was a keen golfer, and they were going up to the driving range, so I went up with them every couple of weeks or so, it came pretty naturally. Then I started to really enjoy it and began getting lessons pretty quickly.

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I started playing at Holywood Golf Club, purely because Rory (McIlroy) was from there. There were just loads of people to play with, loads of juniors and loads of people my age to play with. Then when Rory was starting to win his Majors the buzz about the place was pretty cool.

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As an amateur, I managed to play in a few decent professional and amateur tournaments and saw what the standard was like. I realised the cuts were under par and you had to play well, so I definitely just got better, faster and quite naturally.

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I was meant to go to the University of Florida in the States just when Covid hit, but it was very hard to juggle the school work being back at home and then having to do the exams in the States. Plus, everything being pushed back a year and having to do double the work I just decided to go a different way. Looking back at it now, I think I’ve made a good call!

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The rise since turning pro has been fast. I think playing 2022 on the Challenge Tour really helped. The players out there are very strong, and some of the courses they play on there are tough, with cuts at four or five under par. That definitely got me ready for the step up to the DP World Tour.

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I don’t think at the time I quite realised how prestigious and how big of a tournament winning the European Open was. It was sort of only after I had won when I saw the names on the trophy, did I realise what I had won. But to win my first DP World Tour event is something I’ve dreamed of happening. For it to happen in just over two years of being pro, was probably even more special. I’m going back to defend it in Germany in a couple of weeks time, so I’m looking forward to that.

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Being compared to Rory, is something I have obviously heard for a while now. I wouldn’t say I get sick of it, because it’s obviously cool and an honour to be compared to Rory. But I think when people just keep asking, it does get a bit annoying. I wouldn’t say I got sick of it as a kid, but maybe now that I am older I get a bit more annoyed when people ask me. Don’t worry, this isn’t one of those times! Ha!

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The first time I actually met Rory was in 2015 out here in Dubai at The Els Club. Now a days he’s a very busy guy between playing golf and outside of golf! But we do stay in touch. It’s hard when we’re sort of halfway across the world, but when he’s over here playing on the DP World Tour, I’ll always try and get a practice round in with him.

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At the start of this year, I decided to stay in Dubai when I had my weeks off and it’s been great. It’s definitely helped my golf to just play and practice a bit more consistently, instead of just being at home in the wind and rain and hitting balls at the driving range, then you go onto a tournament not really prepared. So it’s definitely been very beneficial to my game. I play most of my golf at Trump International Dubai with Richard Mansell and Ewen Ferguson who live here, but we tend to play all of the courses across the UAE as well.

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I just want to do much more of the same in 2024. Obviously with the ten PGA Tour cards that are up for grabs is a goal but I wouldn’t say I try to put too much pressure on myself. If it happens, it happens. Knowing that there’s a reward for finishing high up on the Race to Dubai Rankings is pretty cool. So I’ll just try to keep on playing well and try to get one of those.

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