'It gives me a lot of confidence' - McKibbin gets $750,000 boost for The Open

Tom McKibbin headed home for The Open with his confidence sky high and an extra $750,000 in the bank after finishing tied fourth in LIV Golf Andalucía at Valderrama.

The Netwownabbey star (22) closed with a five-under 66 to finish just four shots behind Talor Gooch in the individual standings and also help Legion XIII win the $3 million team prize, which will be ploughed back into their budget.

“Yeah, it gives me a lot of confidence,” said the Holywood star, who will be making his second appearance in The Open after finished tied 66th at Royal Troon last year. 

“My game has felt good for the last couple of weeks, and to finish off well here today, around a very difficult golf course and going into another difficult golf course next week gives me a lot of confidence going there.

“I’m really looking forward to it as it’s somewhere that I've played a lot of golf growing up and in the wintertime, somewhere that I enjoy playing. Really excited to go over there.”

Gooch, who is not among the 19 LIV Golf members teeing it up at Royal Portrush, shot a one-under 70 to win his fourth LIV Golf event and the $4m individual prize by a shot from Legion XIII captain Jon Rahm on eight-under.

Legion XIII took the team event by a shot from Sergio Garcia’s Fireballs and Rahm was pleased to play well heading to Ireland, where he has won two Irish Opens on links courses.

“I mean, if you're not going to win, second best is best case scenario,” Rahm said. 

“Today I played one of the better rounds of golf I've played in a very long time.”

He won the Irish Open at Portstewart in 2017 and at Lahinch in 2019, and he said earlier this week that he loves going back.

“I don't know what it is. I think every week I've had in Ireland has been such a wonderful experience," Rahm said.

"Whether it's the golf course, the tournament, the people, I don't know. I really couldn't tell you exactly what it is. But every time I've gone it's been overwhelmingly positive, so I think that's led to me playing good.

“Or simply the fact that the first time I ever went to Ireland, to Portstewart in Northern Ireland, I played so good that I just kind of carried on.

“But every experience I've had there has been great. The times we've gone, even if it's on time off with the family or tournaments, it's always been such a great one that whenever I go back, I think I feed off of that.

"When it comes to golf, I don't know if there's any secret to it, really."

Paul McGinley, who will be an analyst for NBC at Royal Portrush, fancies Rahm to win the Open, and next week could be the week.

“I ran the Irish Open when it was in Lahinch, and he won,” McGinley said. “His shot-making around Lahinch was phenomenal. He’s also won in Portstewart, which is next door (to Portrush).

“He’s won two Irish Opens on Irish golf courses. He’s got a three-quarter swing, as we know, and three-quarter swingers are great at knocking the ball out of the air.

“With his short game, too, he’s got all the skill sets. I’d be really surprised at the end of his career if Jon Rahm hasn’t probably won more Open Championships as he adds to his major total.

“He’s got a game and a skill set that’s really suited to play links courses.”