Tom McKibbin found himself perched atop the leaderboard at the Husqvarna British Masters after completing a remarkable first round, even as the tournament at The Belfry was repeatedly halted by relentless rain and thunderstorms. The day began under ominous skies, and within minutes of the first tee shots being struck at 7:30 a.m., the sky unleashed its first bolt of lightning.
Officials sounded the klaxon just two minutes later, prompting an immediate three‑hour suspension while safety crews assessed the situation and cleared the area. Play was able to resume at 10:32 a.m., but the reprieve was short‑lived. By midday, water had seeped into numerous bunkers, turning them into mini lakes and making them unplayable.
The course officials called another stop, sending the field back to the clubhouse for a further four‑hour break. When the skies finally cleared enough for a third restart at 4:15 p.m., the early groups managed to push deep into their back‑nine holes. However, the calm was again shattered by rolling thunder and more lightning strikes, forcing the tournament to call a final halt for the day at 7:11 p.m. Because of the erratic weather, none of the competitors on the course completed a full round, and roughly half of the 156‑player field had not even taken their first tee shot.
In the midst of this chaos, Northern Ireland’s Tom McKibbin distinguished himself by completing 13 holes in five‑under‑par, sitting one stroke ahead of England’s Joe Dean and Spain’s Nacho Elvira. Starting his round from the 10th tee, McKibbin displayed a blend of precision and aggression, birdieing the 15th, 17th and 18th holes, and adding further strokes on the first and third holes to cement his lead. The British Masters, now sponsored by Husqvarna, also serves as the opening qualifying event for the 2027 European Ryder Cup team, with the next edition of the competition slated to be held at Adare Manor.
Captain Luke Donald, who is playing his home course at The Belfry, was recorded at one‑under through his first 14 holes, indicating a strong start for the European side. McKibbin’s participation in the tournament is noteworthy because he is a former DP World Tour winner who earned his spot after the LIV Golf Team Championship in Michigan was cancelled. The same circumstance applies to his LIV teammate Tyrrell Hatton, who was scheduled to start in the Thursday afternoon session before the weather forced a postponement. Looking ahead, tournament director Ben Groutage explained that the first round will pick up again on Friday at 7:30 a.m., with the remaining groups slated to tee off between 8:00 a.m.
and 10:00 a.m. The second round is not expected to begin until after 1:45 p.m. Groutage added, "We'll just see how far we can get tomorrow. We have some weather coming in again tomorrow afternoon, so you know, we'll stay out there for as long as we can." For fans eager to follow the action, all four rounds of the Husqvarna British Masters will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
Coverage will continue on Friday from 12:30 p.m. on Sky Sports Golf, and viewers can also stream the tournament without a contract via NOW, taking advantage of the latest Sky Sports deals.
The unpredictable weather has turned what should have been a straightforward opening day into a test of resilience for both players and organizers. Golfers have had to stay mentally sharp despite long waiting periods, and course staff have worked tirelessly to manage water‑logged bunkers and ensure safety during lightning threats. McKibbin’s early performance, however, suggests he has the composure and skill to navigate the challenges ahead, positioning him as a strong contender not only for the British Masters title but also for a coveted spot on the future Ryder Cup team. The tournament’s continuation will hinge on the forecast, but the determination displayed by the field so far promises an exciting and hard‑fought competition once the skies finally clear.