McKibbin: “LIV Golf Appeals More To Someone My Age .. I’m Young & It’s Something I Wanted To Watch”.

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Super talented Tom McKibbin makes his LIV Golf debut this week in Saudi Arabia revealing why he turned down fellow Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy’s impassioned advice and signed with LIV.

McKibbin’s move to join the ranks of LIV Golf comes as rumours surfaced ahead of last month’s inaugural DP World Tour arranged Team Cup in Abu Dhabi, and where the 22-year old was a member of Justin Rose’s victorious GB & I side.

McKibbin then headed to the Hero Dubai Desert Classic and with his management team advising, and if I can use that word, that any questions to Tom were to be about his efforts on the Emirates Golf Club, as this journalist who was in attendance in Dubai agreed to for three of the four days I sought to speak with him though that was not possible on day one as McKibbon had attend a post round random drugs test in the Emirates clubhouse.

Following the Dubia event McKibbin headed the near 75-minute drive north to the Ras Al Khaimah Championship only to miss the halfway but then when his name did not appear among those in the following week’s Bahrain Golf Championship it seemed apparent news would be forthcoming sooner rather than later McKibbin was heading to LIV.

And so it was confirmed that early last week McKibbin’s move to LIV and to become a member of John Rahm’s Legend X111 side was a done deal.

It begs the question then why did McKibbin phone Rory McIlroy on December 17th, and after he had jetted into Auckland, New Zealand for a ‘mates’ golfing vacation, if his mind was made up.

No doubt it was out of courtesy because McIlroy had been asked by this journalist when the World No. 3 attended a pre-Hero Dubai Desert Classic tournament press conference.

In an impassioned 333 word response, McIlroy seemed somewhat upset that a fellow Holywood GC member, and a golfer who he had virtually taken under his wing, was throwing all that McIlroy had said to him out the window.

“Potentially he’s sacrificing and giving up with access to majors, potential Ryder Cup spot, depending on, you know, how he would play, it just wouldn’t have been — you know, depending — look, I don’t think anything is official yet,” said McIlroy.

“But if I were in his position and I had his potential, which I think I have been before, I wouldn’t make that decision”.

McKibbin was unconvinced, believing the chance to play alongside Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau and some of the sport’s other high-profile LIV stars a stronger attraction than the PGA Tour.

“It was definitely in my mind but to me I wasn’t in any of [the majors or Ryder Cup] anyway,” McKibbin said of McIlroy’s advice.

“The opportunity to play with these guys out here more often and more consistently was definitely a huge factor. I’m not in those majors anyway at the minute so that really didn’t bother me too much.

“Being young and 22, I’ve watched the last couple years since [LIV Golf] started. It’s something I really like to watch. Something very different. It appeals to more people my age.

“The opportunity to learn from some of the best players in the world week in, week out is something that appealed very nicely to me. I liked the whole concept of everything.”

McKibbin joined LIV, and as we know, comes after having earned his 2025 PGA Tour card but with the Irish golfer now not having teed-up in one event.

So, confirmation of him joining LIV means McKibbin will be unable to play on the PGA Tour having joined LIV, though will initially retain membership of the DP World Tour and in theory qualify for the Ryder Cup.

McKibbon claimed a maiden title at the European Open in June 2023.



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