Northern Irish golfer's caddie had left the course before play-off with Marcel Siem
Tom McKibbin is relishing getting another crack at a major after securing his place at Royal Troon later this month. The 21-year-old secured his place at the 152nd Open thanks to a superb final round at the Italian Open at the weekend.
Early starter McKibbin shot a a bogey-free 65 to give him the clubhouse lead on 10-under par. There was a three-hour wait for the final group and his caddie David McNeilly had actually left the course before Marcel Siem bogeyed the 17th. Siem though produced two crucial putts on the 18th and on the first hole in the play-off to secure the win. However, McKibbin, who is up to eighth on the Race to Dubai Rankings, is looking to carry on his fine form, which has seen him miss just one cut all season when he was ill in Singapore, when he steps out at Royal Troon for the first time.
"I'm very excited," said McKibbin, who also played at last month's US Open. "I'm thrilled. I got a taste of what the U.S. Open was like a couple of weeks ago so I'm looking forward to going to Troon. "I've never played it but I went to one of the practice rounds there the last time it was played. I can't remember anything about it but I've been."
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