McKibbin savours Masters debut as McIlroy defends

Tom McKibbin says making his Masters debut in the same year Rory McIlroy defends his title with be "pretty special".

The 23-year-old has long envisioned playing Augusta National and will tee off at the iconic venue this April as McIlroy returns as champion.

While the Holywood golfers enter this year's Masters at opposite ends of the Augusta scale, McKibbin feels this will add to the occasion.

"It's pretty cool," he told BBC Sport NI.

"These are the moments you dream of. The fact that Rory's defending and having the champions dinner makes it a really unique year. I am sure now that he's won the Masters he will have a lot more success there.

"I've watched the Masters on TV for 15 or so years and to finally get to play and experience it is going to be something that's really special. I'm sure I'll be absolutely nervous teeing off but those are the things that are exciting.

"It's the first tournament that comes to mind when I think of golf and to be a part of that is going to be great."

McKibbin, who qualified for the Masters by winning the Hong Kong Open last year, will take a practice trip with Tyrrell Hatton this week before the tournament tees-off on 9 April.

"Even just going up and playing it before, being out there on our own, I'm really looking forward to that," he continued.

"I know preparation is key.

"From speaking to people and hearing what it's like, how hilly it is and all the slopes on the fairways, I think it's definitely important to go out before and sort of know what you've got to work on for the week. I'm really excited to play the course."

McKibbin has made a commitment to the DP World Tour this year under compromise arrangements which requires LIV players to play in a minimum number of events.

McKibbin wanted a fuller schedule to compliment his 14 LIV event commitments with Spaniard John Rahm's Legion XIII team, so now his calendar on the European Tour will include Turkey, France, Spain, India, the PGA Championship in England and the Irish Open at Trump Doonbeg.

"I'm happy that I could play," he confirmed.

"I played a lot last year and supported their events well.

"I think I played maybe 12 times, so it didn't really affect me too much having to play seven events and then they choose a couple. For me it was pretty simple - I was going to play anyway."

He is also targeting other majors along with the Masters, and the Open which he's already qualified for.

"I think it's sort of important for me to hopefully push on in some of these majors. I've played nicely before but I think I can sort have a few better finishes.

"I'll definitely try and give US Open qualifying a go and obviously see how these next few events pan out and see if I can get into the US PGA. It all depends how well I play."

McKibbin, who spends much of the year in the UAE, was at his home in Dubai during the recent attacks which he says were unsettling but well handled.

However, he admitted the initial shock was difficult and hadn't factored in such a scenario when he decided to move from Northern Ireland to Dubai

"It was fine, a few loud bangs and that was it really," he said.

"Obviously they were very strange circumstances, but after a couple of days we were back playing golf and life was good.

"When I first got a text about it I didn't believe it at all.

"Those first couple of days were a little bit strange, but after I got over the fact that probably nothing was going to happen, I was okay. I never experienced that type of thing back home (during the Troubles), so my mum and dad who were with me, were much calmer than me."