Rd. 1 Recap: LIV Golf stars shine at Link Hong Kong Open, led by McKibbin

HONG KONG - Legion XIII star Tom McKibbin carded a brilliant bogey-free 10-under 60 on a day of low scoring to take the first-round lead and set a new course record at The International Series Link Hong Kong Open. Promising local amateur Jeffrey Shen showed his undoubted talent with a 7-under 63 to stay three off the pace at Hong Kong Golf Club.

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McKibbin teed off on the 11th hole and picked up early birdies on Nos. 12 and 13 before carding three more on the spin from Nos. 15 to 17. The 22-year-old then went birdie-eagle on Nos. 2 and 3, respectively, before picking up two more shots on Nos. 8 and 10 for a one-shot clubhouse lead. The 60 is an official course record as 4Aces GC's Patrick Reed’s 59 last year was played under lift, clean and place rules.

Thai star Jazz Janewattananond, also starting off 11, produced a flawless round of 61 to sit one off the lead. The 2023 International Series Morocco champion, a seven-time Asian Tour winner, started slower with three birdies on his front nine, before reeling off six on his back nine. Compatriot Kiradech Aphibarnrat is a shot further behind at 8-under alongside former Open champion and Stinger GC Captain Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa and 4Aces GC's Thomas Pieters of Belgium.

McKibbin was delighted with his morning’s work. The 2023 Porsche European Open winner, who finished T6 at LIV Golf Hong Kong earlier this season, said: “It was obviously a very, very good round. I didn't really miss too many shots, holed a few nice putts and took advantage of the two par fives that there are out there. And yes, 60 shots later, I'm sitting here!”

On flirting with Reed’s 59, which the American posted in the third round en route to a four-shot victory last year, McKibbin said it wasn't a main focus.

“No, I looked at the scorecard after 17 holes and saw it was a par 70, so I knew I had to eagle the last so maybe that helped," McKibbin said. "But yes, 60 is the lowest round that I have ever shot - 62 has been my best before. So it was nice to break that, fantastic.”

Kiradech, on his first Asian Tour start of the season, carded nine birdies and the one bogey.

“My iron play was strong, and I stayed positive throughout," Kiradech said. "The key for me today was simply enjoying being back on the Asian Tour. I got to play with Sarit (Suwannarut), one of the new generation of Thai players. We had some great conversations, and it’s inspiring to see young Thai talent fighting proudly for our flag across Asia. I am really happy to see the Asian Tour heading in the right direction.

“It is growing, and we are seeing more great players emerge from here - I am proud to be one of them. I genuinely enjoy being part of these events. When I am having fun and in a good mood, everything else tends to fall into place.”

Oosthuizen was the pick of the afternoon rounds, with six back-nine birdies which were helped largely by a red-hot putter. Pieters started with four straight birdies, and managed another two on the turn, before picking up further shots on Nos. 15 and 18.

“Ten putts on the back nine definitely helped," Oosthuizen said. "I missed one birdie putt and had a good up-and-down on 14, but the rest were one-putts. I read the greens really well today. I did some drill work on the putting green this morning and felt something click in my setup. I tried to carry that feeling into the round, and it worked.”

While there was only heartache for local hero Taichi Kho, in the form of a 7-over 77, promising local youngster Shen was in a five-man group tied for sixth.

Talented youngster Shen sits on 7-under alongside International Series Rankings leader Scott Vincent of Zimbabwe, Ripper GC's Matt Jones of Australia, Japan’s Kensei Hirata and Austen Truslow of the U.S. who had an eventful round with an eagle, seven birdies and a double bogey.

Talented youngster Shen was in tremendous form, bouncing back well from the heat stroke he suffered last weekend at the Asian Pacific Amateur Championship in Dubai.

Shen, who had his father on the bag for the round, said: “I mean, I like this feeling, with my family and my friends here to support me, and because this is my home course, every time I feel really good here. At Hong Kong Golf Club, it is all about the putting. So you need to plan for it because the pin position is changed every day.”

Asian Tour Order of Merit leader Kazuki Higa of Japan is a shot further back on six under in an 11-strong pack while defending champion Reed, is handily placed on five under in T22, and Miguel Tabuena, last week’s International Series Philippines winner, sits T27 on four under for the day.

The Link Hong Kong Open is the seventh of nine elevated events on the Asian Tour that form a pathway onto the LIV Golf League for the season-ending Rankings champion.

(Photo courtesy of Asian Tour)