n Gibson is a golfing explosion waiting to happen – but not even he knows quite where.
Gibson has, until recently, been a name known to only hardcore Aussie golf fans.
The needle began to move when he fired a world record 16-under-par 55 in 2012 in Oklahoma.
But despite the Bendigo-born, Lismore (NSW) raised Gibson having played US collegiate golf, it was viewed by some as more an oddity than a calling card from a world-class player.
Well, nobody’s mocking him now.
Gibson, whose wife and life are still based in Oklahoma, has become a travelling golfer with a penchant for the dramatic.
And he didn’t disappoint today with a fine four-under 68 to open the Australian Masters on just his second walk around Metropolitan.
Gibson was fourth in the Emirates Australian Open last year, qualifying for his first Open Championship as a result.
And after he made a 4m bomb in fading Friday night light at Royal Liverpool to make the cut, his reward was a third round with none other than Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth.
At 28, and making up for time spent without any playing rights around the world, he’s in the middle of a Web.com Tour qualifying school tilt that will take him back to the US after next week’s national championship, but only after another week representing Asia in the Dongfeng Nissan Cup in China.
Simple really.
And all that after jetting in on Tuesday afternoon for his first look at ANY Sandbelt course.
“I was really still on a high from making it through to the final stage to Web.com (Tour Q-school), so that kind of gives me membership on that tour next year,” said Gibson, who doesn’t want to be known only as the bloke who shot 55.
“It was kind of a whirlwind trip to come here …
but I don't want to be known as a one-hit wonder.
“Obviously I think I can play. So, yeah, I hope I can prove that the next couple days.”
Gibson churns through the frequent flyer miles with his main playing commitment on the OneAsia Tour.
But with a finance degree to fall back on should his golfing numbers turn sour, he’s keen to find out exactly how far he can go, even if he’s a latecomer.
“There are some younger guys that probably have done more than me but I feel like I'm progressing with my game and where I'm going,” he said.
“I feel like every year my game has gotten better and at the start of every year, I've been in a better position than I was the year before.
“I feel like I'm doing the right things.”