Tom McKibbin

Like Rory McIlroy, Tom McKibbin hails from the Holywood club near his home in Belfast - and will join him as a PGA tour member after finishing 18th in the Race to Dubai last season.

McKibbin will also be playing on home turf when The 153rd Open returns to Royal Portrush.

At the age of 21 he tied for 41st on his major debut at last June’s US Open and then also made his first Open appearance at Royal Troon thanks to a runner-up finish at the Italian Open.

The Italian Open was so nearly his second victory on the DP World Tour. After a sparkling closing 65 – the best round of the day by two – he led by one before Marcel Siem birdied the 18th and then did it again at the first hole of their sudden death play-off.

Second place was still good enough to take him into the game’s top 100 for the first time.

McKibbin’s maiden win came by two strokes at the 2023 Porsche European Open. He could not add to his tally last season, but posted no fewer than nine top ten finishes.