Holywood golfer Tom McKibbin is soaking in every moment of his first Masters appearance, describing the experience as "surreal" after years of watching the iconic tournament from afar.
The 23-year-old earned his spot at Augusta National by winning last year's Hong Kong Open. This week, he's been familiarizing himself with the legendary course ahead of Thursday's opening round.
"It's very surreal, watching this for the past 15 or 16 years and to drive down Magnolia Lane over the past couple of days is pretty cool and something I probably won't forget," McKibbin told reporters during Monday's practice session.
While thrilled to be competing, McKibbin is focused on making a strong impression. He acknowledges the course's formidable challenges—particularly the lengthy fairways and immaculate, fast greens.
"Some of the holes are very long, especially around 10 and 11, where you're hitting long irons into greens that look pretty small from that distance," he observed. "But the golf course is just incredible. The greens are absolutely perfect—so pristine and quick—with some pretty crazy slopes you can really play around with."
McKibbin emphasized that his primary goal is to enjoy the experience while performing to the best of his ability.
"The golf course changes so much over the week, I don't know what to expect," he said. "I'd just like to have a nice week, play well, and see where that takes me. Your first time, there aren't a lot of expectations, but I want to have a good week."
Adding to the significance of his debut, McKibbin's parents have traveled to the United States to support him. "To share these memories with them and hopefully have a good week will be nice," he noted.
The timing is particularly meaningful as fellow Northern Irish golfer Rory McIlroy enters as defending champion, having completed a career Grand Slam with his Masters victory last year.
"It's great to be playing in the first one since he won last year," McKibbin said. "So it's really special to be a part of that."