McKibbin set for Northern Ireland homecoming

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Tom McKibbin - Getty

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Tom McKibbin will tee it up on home soil for the first time as a DP World Tour winner at the ISPS HANDA World Invitational presented by Aviv Clinics from August 17-20.

The 20-year-old became the youngest winner from the island of Ireland on the DP World Tour since Rory McIlroy when he triumphed at the Porsche European Open last month, as he produced a display of maturity beyond his years in Hamburg to win by two strokes.

A product of Holywood Golf Club, the same club where McIlroy honed his skills as a junior, McKibbin now represents Galgorm, co-host venue of the ISPS HANDA World Invitational, and will receive a hero’s welcome when he competes in the innovative event at the Co. Antrim venue and Castlerock Golf Club. Click here to purchase your tickets.

He earned his DP World Tour card for 2023 after finishing tenth on the European Challenge Tour’s Road to Mallorca Rankings, which included winning the Christy O’Connor Memorial Trophy as leading Irishman in the Irish Challenge, and secured his maiden victory on just his 26th start.

“I’m really looking forward to heading back home to Galgorm next month,” said McKibbin, who finished in a tie for tenth in this event last year. “There is nothing like teeing it up on home soil and playing in front of home crowds.

“Galgorm have been very good to me over the years and it holds a special place in my heart. It makes me extremely proud that this event has been such a trailblazer for innovation over the years, with men and women playing the same courses and now the G4D event taking place at the start of the week.

“I’m sure it’s going to be another great event and I can’t wait to see everybody there next month.”

The ISPS HANDA World Invitational sees men and women play on the same courses, at the same time, while being co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour, LPGA Tour and the Ladies European Tour.

Galgorm will again return as host venue, but will this year be joined by the stunning Castlerock Golf Club as every facet of the players’ games are to be tested with the challenge of parkland and links golf.

Each player will play one round at each venue over the first two days, before all the action takes place at Galgorm once the cut falls after 36 holes. Additionally, the G4D Tour @ ISPS HANDA World Invitational will take place during the tournament week, pitting together the best players from the Word Ranking for Golfers with Disability.

In 2022, Scotland’s Ewen Ferguson picked up his second DP World Tour title in wire-to-wire fashion, while Sweden’s Maja Stark fired a stunning closing round of 63 to win the women’s competition by five strokes as she continued her magnificent ascent up the women’s ranks.

To purchase your tickets, please click here.

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