Tom McKibbin was naturally tight-lipped when asked about reports he is set to join LIV Golf.
News broke yesterday that the Northern Irishman, and a member as the same Holywood Golf Club as Rory McIlroy, seems set to join the Saudi-backed league before even playing a shot as one of the newest 2025 PGA Tour members.
And knowing he was surely going to be asked about the news, and first reported by the Spanish-based Ten-Golf, it was clear McKibbin had been coached by his management team what to say, if asked, ahead of teeing-up in this week’s Team Cup in Abu Dhabi.
NO COMMENT ….
Diplomacy the order of the day when @tommckibbin8 & 2025 @RyderCupEurope captain Luke Donald were quizzed ahead this week’s #TeamCup on McKibbin’s impending move @livgolf_league
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“I’m not going to make any comments this week out of respect for Justin [Rose] and Luke [Donald] and this tournament,” McKibbin said to Golf Digest Middle East.
“It’s a team event so I’m just trying to give my best to the team and see how many points I can get.”
McKibbin added that being part of the Ryder Cup in the future is one of his ambitions. Playing golf on the LIV Tour could hinder him achieving that goal.
“It was a goal of mine at the start of last year to be part of this event,” he said about the Team Cup.
“I haven’t played any team golf as a pro. I played a little bit as an amateur so really excited to be part of a team and looking forward to the week.”
European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald, who is again in Abu Dhabi as he was two-years ago as the 2023 European Ryder Cup leader, was approached for his comments and firstly, whether or not talk of McKibbin’s move to LIV is disruptive to this week’s agenda.
“No, not at all,” said Donald.
“Tom has to make the decisions that he feels are best for him. I talked to Tom and he’s very much looking forward to this week, looking forward to playing for Justin, looking forward to try and impress me and contribute to the team.
“Nothing changes there.”
The newly-named Team Cup is being again hosted by the DP World Tour as a means of bringing potential European Ryder Cup players together in a GB&A versus Europe format, as was the scenario two years ago, and being staged again on the Abu Dhabi Golf Club course.
Two years ago, three players who competed in Abu Dhabi made it into the 2023 European Ryder Cup team – Sepp Straka, Bob MacIntyre and Nicolai Højgaard.
