Tom McKibbin is just five off the lead heading into the final round of the DP World Tour’s Commercial Bank Qatar Masters after posting a moving day 65 and climbing 30 spots on the leaderboard.
Rounds of 71 and 69 on days one and two respectively saw the Holywood Tour rookie positioned in midfield after the 36-hole cut, and with a two-tee start in operation, began his third round on the 10th and signalled his intent straight away with birdies on both of his opening holes. Holes 12 through 15 is the toughest stretch on Education City Golf Club, so four pars there was an excellent return, and then the closing stage of the back nine is where scoring can be done.
And McKibbin feasted on those holes, making three straight birdies to close out his first nine and make the turn in 31 strokes. Three-in-a-row soon became four when he rolled in a six-footer at the first and it looked like a 62 or 63 could be on the cards, however, an aggressive putt at the par-3 fourth – playing the second toughest hole on the course – went well past and he missed the one back to register his first bogey of the day.
It would be his last dropped shot, however, and a pinpoint wedge to the fourth saw him immediately get the shot back and it was deja vu on the seventh as he’d again stick it to five feet from the same yardage, rolling in his eighth birdie putt of the day and that’s how he’d finish at -11, seven-under for the day and in a tie for eighth.
“Everything was pretty solid,” he’d say after the round, “hit some lovely iron shots today which I hadn’t really done the last two days, nice to hit them a little better, see some nice shots and obviously converted a few putts too.”
With a win already under his belt this season, and virtually guaranteed to be among the 60-player field at the DP World Tour Championship in November, there is an element of freedom in his game, though a second win here and a strong finish in Dubai could yet see him make a late charge for one of the 10 PGA Tour cards on offer.
“Yeah, probably,” he replied when asked if it was a luxury not having to grind to secure his playing rights. “I’ve known for the last couple of months that I’m all good, so this is the same as every tournament, I want to do as well as I can, but I’d hate to have that feeling at the moment. I’m sure it’s pretty awful.”
The weather in Qatar has been a mixed bag this week, but when it’s been hot, it’s been very hot.
Yeah, it’s been tough. Definitely with the heat and stuff it’s been tiring, especially yesterday when I played 27 holes. Last night I was absolutely exhausted, so it’s been more of a tiring week than anything. The weather most weeks hasn’t been great so it’s been a tough stretch but playing outdoor sport, it is what it is.
“Just try and go out tomorrow and do something like I did today. Keep playing the way I am and see what happens.”
Darkness called a halt to proceedings with six players still on the course, and among them were tournament leader Jorge Campillo, third placed Robert MacIntyre and Thomas Aiken who is tied for fourth.
Campillo, who at -16 is one clear of Finn Sami Valimaki, will return early on Sunday to complete the final hole whilst MacIntyre, currently lying in solo third at -14, has two holes to complete.
With threeballs again expected for the final round, depending on how the remaining players on course finish their rounds, McKibbin will likely be in the third or fourth-to-last group, and could have an opportunity to post a target that will take some catching.
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