A clinical putting performance from Tom McKibbin saw Holywood’s second most famous star move into contention at the Amgen Irish Open.
McKibbin, who featured in a group alongside Laurie Canter of England and China’s Haoton Li, started his second round at the K Club in Straffan on the 10th hole and went on to record a four-under-par 68 to move to five under overall.
The early clubhouse lead in County Kildare was shared by Australia’s Daniel Hillier, Alfredo Garcia-Heredia of Spain and Denmark’s overnight co-leader Thorbjorn Olesen on seven under.
Despite being far from perfect off the tee, McKibbin’s hot putter helped him to five birdies and a solitary bogey.
The world number 153’s highlights reel included a 25-foot putt on the 17th hole, the eighth of his round, and a monstrous 33-foot effort on the seventh.
After closing with a birdie, the 22-year-old told RTÉ Sport: “I didn’t really have my best stuff off the tee, but my iron play was nice and I putted very, very nice.”
Reflecting on the final hole in his round, McKibbin added: “I hit a great second shot in there to about six feet and probably left myself the most disgusting putt on the green, so it was nice to hole that.
“To finish with a birdie, It’s always nice to hole one of those to end the day, and I’m looking forward to the weekend.”
Now a permanent member on the LIV Golf tour after joining the lucrative Saudi-backed venture at the start of the year, McKibbin insisted that the longer format and more genteel environs of the DP World Tour didn’t require him to make many adjustments.
“It’s golf at the end of the day,” he said. “You’re just playing 18 holes of golf.
“Maybe it’s just a little bit different with no music and things like that, but I’ve played a few events this year that haven’t had that, so it wasn’t that unfamiliar.”
Of the other Irish players to conclude their rounds, only Alex Maguire has dipped under the projected cut line of level par.
A 72 ensured Maguire finished on two under, while Seamus Power, Mark Power and Robert Moran are two over. Amateur John Doyle is four over, with Padraig Harrington and Max Kennedy a shot further back. Conor Purcell is eight over after two disappointing rounds of 76.
Former champions Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry are both still out on the course.
Rory McIlroy had a lucky escape on the par-three 8th hole as he continued a flawless start to day two of the #AmgenIrishOpen
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— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) September 5, 2025