Golf: McKibbin aiming to play it cool at Royal County Down
Tom McKibbin feels a big week at the Irish Open in Royal County Down can set him up for the future in more ways than one.
He's been paired with fellow Holywood man, World Number Three and undoubted star of the show in Newcastle, Rory McIlroy, plus last year's tournament winner at the K CLub, Vincent Normann, for the first two rounds.
"I'm really excited for the week, especially here at Royal County Down, a golf course that's very prestigious and very special. I think it's going to be a pretty cool week," he says.
"I think it's a golf course that you learn to respect a bit more and appreciate the more you play. I think the first couple of times I had ever played it, I found it too difficult. I didn't really enjoy it that much. But as I got better and played it more, I've came to appreciate it a lot more. It's a very hard test of golf; a lot of blind tee shots with majority of crosswinds.
"I think it will be a very difficult test out there.
"I think it's really just you've got to get the lines off the tee right, especially off the blind tee shots, and then don't really try and shoot a score.
"I think you've just got to be real patient and keep the ball in front of you. I think par is going to be pretty good this week and I think trying not to force it too much is probably the key out there," adds the 21-year-old.
"It's obviously a completely different sort of style of golf than what we normally play, and I find it quite difficult. A lot of the time, it's obviously different to see the ball move so much in the air than what you're used to. A lot of different shots are required.
"I would say I have to try to change a little bit. It's sometimes quite tricky, especially this week where it's quite cold, things don't feel the same, and it takes more effort to hit certain shots.
McKibbin's goal in this tournament - and those going forward - is more than just winning.
He's aiming to book his PGA Tour card for 2025 and needs to finish in the DP World Tour rankings top 10 by the end of this season to guarantee his move. Heading into Royal County Down, he currently lies 12th.
He's also hoping to put himself into the thinking for next year's Ryder Cup. But firstly, he wants to dowell in his home Open.
"It would mean a lot (to win it). I think it would mean a lot no matter where it was, but here at County Down would be even more special just because of the prestigiousness of the course and how special it is. It would probably be the biggest achievement of my career, and it would probably stay there for ever.
"But I think the golf course is so hard, I would be probably more nervous playing the golf course thinking about all these outcomes.
"So I think it's just trying to keep the ball in front of you and see where that is at the end of the week."