Tom McKibbin keeps his head as others lose theirs on day 2 at K Club

Tom McKibbin is currently seven shots off leader Joakim Lagergren. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Tom McKibbin has become used to the noise. It’s all part of playing on the LIV Tour. That experience proved useful on Friday as Haotong Li, one of his playing partners for the opening two rounds of the Irish Open at the K Club, threw a strop.

The Chinese player had just hit a rich vein of form in the previous five holes, carding an eagle and two birdies to go two-under. Then, with his ball in a gully just off the par-5 fifth hole’s green, the world number 84 pulled out the putter for his third shot. Eyebrows were raised. Li’s temper rose as the ball rolled back down the slope. "What a stupid fucking play man!” he cried.