Tom McKibbin wins the Link Hong Kong Open with a final-round 63 and secures a spot in the 2026 Open Championship.
22-year-old Northern Irishman Tom McKibbin claimed victory at the prestigious Link Hong Kong Open on the Asian Tour, held in Fanling, China. With this win, McKibbin not only lifted the trophy but also earned a coveted spot in the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale in 2026, as well as an invitation to the Masters Tournament in Augusta. Both events are among golf’s four majors, offering global recognition and significant prize money.
McKibbin started his final round with a birdie on the first hole and added seven more birdies throughout the day. His only blemish came on the 18th hole, where he carded a bogey to finish with a 63. This performance followed a consistent showing throughout the tournament, including a course-record 60 on the opening day. McKibbin finished at 27-under-par for the event, securing his place in two of golf’s biggest tournaments.
Asian Tour: Uihlein falls short on final day
American Peter Uihlein was in close contention heading into the final round but couldn’t match McKibbin’s pace. Uihlein shot a 68 on Sunday, playing a clean front nine with three birdies. He added three more birdies on the back nine but suffered a major setback on the par-4 14th hole, where he needed eight strokes. He finished the day seven shots behind McKibbin, securing second place on the final leaderboard.
Oosthuizen, Ikemura, and Maguire share third
Third place was shared by Tomoyo Ikemura, Louis Oosthuizen, and American M.J. Maguire. Maguire had surged up the leaderboard with a 61 on Saturday but could only manage an even-par round on Sunday, with three birdies and three bogeys. Despite the strong showing earlier in the tournament, he had to settle for a tie for third.