Youngster Tom McKibbin mixes Callaway, TaylorMade, and Titleist clubs for a finely tuned setup that led to a big win.
22-year-old Tom McKibbin secured a major milestone at the Link Hong Kong Open on the Asian Tour, held in China. With a dominant performance of 27-under-par, the Northern Irishman earned spots at both the 154th Open Championship in 2026 and the Masters in Augusta. Hailing from Holywood near Belfast, like Rory McIlroy, McKibbin reveals a thoughtful approach to his equipment, blending gear from multiple top brands.
WITB: A strategic mix of top-tier brands
From the tee, McKibbin trusts a Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond Max driver, designed with a titanium structure within a carbon chassis that reduces weight by 15% and shifts mass toward the clubhead. Complementing his driver is a TaylorMade Stealth 2 3-wood with 15° loft, a long-standing staple in his setup. Previously, he had also used a TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus and a Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond 5-wood, though neither featured in Hong Kong.
Three Callaway iron models in play
Due to the tight layout of the Link Hong Kong Golf Club, McKibbin opted for a Callaway Apex UT Utility 3-iron and a forgiving Apex Ai150 4-iron. His 5-iron through pitching wedge are from the X-Forged series, launched in 2017 and known for rewarding consistent ball strikers—something McKibbin clearly demonstrated en route to victory.
His wedge setup includes a 50° and 54° Callaway Opus SP, while his 60° wedge comes from Titleist’s Vokey SM10 line. For putting, McKibbin used an Odyssey Ai-One Rossie S putter in Hong Kong, a model that may still be in prototype phase, reflecting his ongoing experimentation throughout 2025.
Trusted ball choice
Like many professionals, McKibbin relies on the Titleist Pro V1 golf ball, a staple among elite players for its consistency and performance.