Staff WriterNorthern Ireland’s Tom McKibbin continued his dazzling form at the Link Hong Kong Open, following up Thursday’s record-breaking 60 with a composed five-under 65 to take a two-shot lead heading into the weekend at Hong Kong Golf Club.
The 22-year-old LIV Golf star sits at 15-under-par, two clear of American Peter Uihlein and Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Jazz Janewattananond. Uihlein fired a rollercoaster 63 that included a triple bogey, while Kiradech and Jazz carded 65 and 66 respectively.
Hot on their heels are American Charles Howell III, who scorched the fairways with a 62, and LIV stalwarts Louis Oosthuizen and Thomas Pieters, both returning solid 66s.
McKibbin, who represents Legion XIII under Jon Rahm’s captaincy, remains bogey-free through 36 holes – a stat that will worry anyone trying to catch him.
“Very, very solid day,” McKibbin said, reflecting on another sharp display. “Game played very, very similar to yesterday. Just didn’t hole as many putts. But yeah, very happy to keep the bogeys off the card.”
McKibbin’s 60 on Thursday set a new course record, and he’s showing no signs of letting up. He already owns one European Tour win from two years ago, but a maiden title on the Asian Tour and The International Series is now within reach.
“Hopefully, very similar stuff [over the weekend] would be nice,” he added. “Think I’ve sort of took the approach going into this week just to sort of play very aggressive and sort of just whatever the outcome is, come the end of the week, it is what it is. And I think maybe I’ll just keep doing that. And, you know, I’ve had a quite nice year. So why not just go for it?”
McKibbin’s second round included two birdies on the front nine and three in a row on the back, all delivered with the calm precision of a man who looks utterly at home under pressure.
Uihlein’s Birdie Blitz Turns Sour
Peter Uihlein looked ready to break McKibbin’s record during a rampant stretch of nine birdies before disaster struck at the par-four ninth – his 17th hole of the day – where he ran up a triple bogey.
“I blocked it,” Uihlein said, grimacing at the memory. “Then chipped it through the fairway. Fatted it. Fatted it. Next one I wasn’t gonna fat it right?”
Despite the slip, his 63 keeps him right in contention for what could be a third International Series victory after wins in England and Qatar last season.
“I hit it awful. Absolutely. Hit it terrible,” he admitted. “Oh, it was awful. I didn’t hit a fairway until 18, and then I was in the middle of a divot, and then my next fairway I hit was on four and just had a clod of mud. I drove it awful. So, no, there was no thoughts of anything like that [course record], it was survival.”
Uihlein knows the feeling of running hot on this circuit—his two wins last year came by commanding margins—and he remains one of the biggest threats to McKibbin’s lead this weekend.
Kiradech and Jazz Keep Thailand in the Hunt
Former Asian Tour Order of Merit champion Kiradech Aphibarnrat carded a 65, mixing an eagle, six birdies, and three bogeys to stay within striking distance of the lead.
“It was a solid day overall,” he said. “Even though it didn’t start well, similar to the first round. I opened with a bogey after a bad drive but bounced back quickly with birdies on the second and third holes, which got me back into the game.
“My driving wasn’t as sharp as yesterday, but I managed my game well, focused on hitting as many greens as possible, and my putting felt great. I had good speed and good reads all day. Finishing five-under puts me just a couple of shots behind, so I’ll keep doing what’s worked in the first two rounds.”
Jazz Janewattananond’s steady 66 added another Thai flag near the top of the Link Hong Kong Open leaderboard, ensuring that the Asian contingent remains firmly in contention.
The Road Ahead
As the Link Hong Kong Open moves into moving day, McKibbin’s blend of poise and aggression looks every bit the winning formula. But with the likes of Uihlein, Oosthuizen, and Howell all lurking, the final two rounds promise drama befitting a tournament that’s become a gateway to LIV Golf stardom.
This event marks the seventh of nine elevated tournaments on the Asian Tour calendar, each offering a coveted pathway to the LIV Golf League for the season’s top-ranked player.
And if McKibbin keeps swinging the way he has, that path might just lead straight through Belfast.
