Northern Ireland Teen Matches Impressive Record Set by Rory McIlroy

Tom McKibbin is his name, a 19-year-old from Northern Ireland that has crossed his way into the World’s Top 300. Mckibbin and McIlroy have been the only teenagers from Northern Ireland to achieve this. Rory was just a year younger (18) when he was able to crack the top 300 in the world golf rankings. He first came onto the radar back in 2018 as he made the cut in a DP World Tour event as a 15-year-old. 

👦 15 years old
👀 Plays at Holywood Golf Club (Rory’s home club)
👏 Shoots 71 on European Tour debut

Keep an eye on the name of Tom McKibbin golf fans… pic.twitter.com/D7zrGZ19vn

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) June 7, 2018

McKibbin even expressed that he is happy to share this stat with his mentor, Rory McIlroy. Mckibbin has had the luxury of belonging to the same club in Holywood. Rory has even been vocal about his talents, that he has a remarkable future ahead of him, while others compare him to be the next Rory. 

McIlroy said of McKibbin a few years ago:

“He is the real deal. I think he has a remarkable golfing future ahead of him.”

McKibbin added in a 2020 interview with GolfChannel.com:

“The comparisons don’t bother me. If you’re getting compared to Rory McIlroy, you’re obviously doing something right. But I think more than anything it’s huge having Rory as a mentor and being able to ask him for advice, ask him what he thinks about things. He’s the best, and to be able to go out and play golf with him, I mean, who better to play with than Rory? … If you can play with Rory, you can play with anyone.”

Tom McKibbin 🤝 Rory McIlroy

The comparisons with the world number one do not faze the Holywood teenager as he joins the DW Tour

📺 Hear more from @tommckibbin8 on @bbcnewsline tonight at 6:30pm

— BBC SPORT NI (@BBCSPORTNI) November 8, 2022

The young prodigy didn’t have his best stuff as a newly turned pro in 2021, as he missed his first three cuts. But he didn’t let that bother him, as 2022 has been a significantly more successful year, picking up consecutive finishes of T-3 and T-7. Not only to several solid finishes inside the top 10, he finished 10th in points to earn himself a card on the DP World Tour. 

He is quickly making huge strides with his new card, finishing inside the top 20 in three consecutive starts on the DP World Tour.

Cover Image Via Twitter