McKIBBIN FINISHES T20 IN LATEST LIV EVENT IN RIYADH
Northern Ireland’s Tom McKibbin finished tied 20th in the LIV Tour PIF Saudi International in Riyadh (Photo: Graham Uden/Asian Tour)
Tom McKibbin enjoyed another decent outing in the latest LIV Tour PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers where Josele Ballester announced himself on the world stage to be crowned champion.
The Holywood golfer tied for 20th at Riyadh Golf Club with rounds of 68, 67, 69, 69 for an 11-under 273 total. He finished one stroke ahead of compatriot Graeme McDowell (68, 68, 70, 68).
Ballester won by three strokes on 22-under (66, 65, 66, 65) in just his 10th start in the professional game. The Spaniard record won by three from last year’s joint runner-up Caleb Surratt from the United States, who shot a closing 69.
South African Dean Burmester, who beat Ballester in extra-time at LIV Golf Chicago in August, returned a 71 to claim third, while England’s Richard Bland fired a 68 to settle for fourth.
American Anthony Kim recorded far and away his best result since returning to the game after a 12-year break. He signed off with a 70 to tie for fifth.
In what was the final event of the season on The International Series, Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent wrapped up The International Series Rankings. It’s the second time he has won the Rankings, having claimed the inaugural edition in 2022, and means he will make a popular return to the LIV Golf League next year.
Ballester, the winner of the US Amateur last year who joined Sergio Garcia’s Fireballs GC team mid-way through this season.
“First of all, thank you so much. I’m super happy,” said Ballester, aged 22. “It’s been everything, right? Like at the end of the day, being a young boy dreaming about this moment, winning your first professional career. This is why I worked so hard every day. It’s been really cool, to finally get this done. It’s going to make me keep working even harder to accomplish all the things I have.
“But right now I’m really happy and thankful for all the people that have been there supporting me.
“It’s been great these past few months. It’s been a lot of learning. When I joined LIV, I was not playing great, and it was a learning process. I had to become better. It’s been really cool to see that in this brief time I’ve gotten so much better and that I can compete at the highest level with the best players in the world.”
Japan’s Kazuki Higa has kept the lead on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, after tying for 65th. Vincent is second and Tabuena third, with two events remaining.
The Asian Tour heads to India next for the Bharath Classic at Kensville Golf Resort in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The inaugural tournament will be played from November 27 and will be joint sanctioned with the newly formed Indian Golf Premier League.