Rory McIlroy comparisons don't faze Tom McKibbin as he continues upward trajectory

Tom McKibbin insists he has "gotten used" to being dubbed the next Rory McIlroy. It's perhaps unsurprising that comparisons have been made between the two Northern Irish golfers.

Both started their journey to the professional game at Holywood Golf Club making headlines from a very young age. McKibbin may only be in the infancy of his game at pro level, but he is already showing his undoubted quality becoming Irish golf’s youngest tour winner since McIlroy after bagging the European Open last year.

It only adds to the connections being made between himself and the current world number two. McKibbin though doesn't let it faze him with his focus all on his golf.

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“It doesn't even bother me or really affect me," he said. “I’ve heard them for so long, I’ve probably just gotten used to it.

"I don't read much written about me, so I couldn't care less. Honestly, when I was younger, I thought it was quite a cool thing to be compared to Rory. It was quite special, so it didn't really put too much pressure on me.

“It doesn't really faze me or anything. I guess it's cool to be compared to Rory and things like that. So I probably just took it in my stride and got on with it. If it didn’t work out, it didn’t work out.”

McKibbin will host this summer's NI Open at Galgorm, where he first shot to prominence as a 13-year-old back in 2016. There is a £250,000 purse up for grabs this year as one of the elevated tournaments on this year’s European Challenge Tour schedule and McKibbin offered up some advice for those golfers hoping to follow in his footsteps and progress to the DP World Tour.

“You definitely have to be selfish in a way and try to do your own thing,” he said. “You have to really knuckle down, stick the head down just to get off that tour because there are so many good players.

"You have to love to do your own thing, not get caught up with everybody and invest in yourself, really. It's all about getting to the highest levels. You can't get there doing everything sort of half-assed. You really have to work hard for it, take a lot of time and give it your all.”

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