The 22-year-old Northern Irishman stands at a pivotal crossroads in his career. Tom McKibbin captured the 2023 Porsche European Open on the DP World Tour. Then he made a bold leap to LIV Golf’s Legion XIII in 2025. Now, his World Golf Ranking sits at 109th, 59 spots away from the coveted top-50 threshold that unlocks automatic invitations to the 2026 Masters and Open Championship.

But something extraordinary just happened at the Hong Kong Golf Club that could transform everything. The young gun delivered a performance that rewrote the record books in a way even a major champion couldn’t manage.

McKibbin fired a bogey-free 60 at the 2025 LINK Hong Kong Open to set the official course record. The feat carries extra weight because Patrick Reed shot 59 at the same venue in 2024, yet failed to set the record because preferred lies were in effect. McKibbin went out in a blistering 27 on the front nine, racking up seven birdies against just two pars. He added 33 on the back nine. His final-hole birdie sealed the historic round at 10-under par on the par-70 layout.

The Legion XIII star didn’t even realize he was chasing sub-60 territory until the 17th hole. “Not until the last hole, I wasn’t too sure what part of the course was until I checked the scorecard on 17 and seen I had the eagle at last,” McKibbin revealed in his post-round interview.

He stayed calm despite the mounting pressure. Meanwhile, the tight, precision-demanding course at Fanling suited his game perfectly.

The International Series event carries massive implications beyond the $5 million purse. McKibbin’s performance positions him to climb the Official World Golf Ranking. Every spot matters when you’re hunting major championship exemptions. The tournament offers crucial OWGR points, along with invitations to Augusta National and Royal Birkdale for the winner.

The preferred lies rule that changed everything

Here’s where the story takes an ironic twist. Reed posted an 11-under 59 during Saturday’s third round of the 2024 edition. The 2018 Masters champion dominated en route to a commanding 22-under victory, six shots clear of the field. However, preferred lies were in effect that day due to weather conditions. Golf’s governing bodies maintain strict standards for official records. Scores achieved under preferred lies, where players can lift, clean, and place their balls, don’t qualify for the record books.

The rule exists to preserve the integrity of “play it as it lies.” Preferred lies typically get implemented when course conditions deteriorate from weather or maintenance issues. They allow fairer competition in adverse conditions. Yet they also make scores incomparable to rounds played under standard rules. Reed’s remarkable 59 became a footnote rather than a record.

McKibbin’s 60 under standard conditions now stands as the official benchmark. The R&A and USGA Model Local Rule E-3 clearly states that scores made with preferred lies can’t be recognized as records. Reed’s lower number carries less official weight than McKibbin’s higher one.

The young LIV Golf star joined Jon Rahm‘s squad alongside Tyrrell Hatton earlier this year. His T6 finish at LIV Hong Kong in March showed his comfort on the course. Now he’s proven he can dominate when it matters most. McKibbin’s career earnings already exceed $5.77 million, including his 2025 LIV Golf earnings alone.

The official course record validates McKibbin’s decision to join the Saudi-backed circuit. More importantly, it positions him perfectly for the major championship qualification battle ahead.