Tom McKibbin insists that playing alongside Jon Rahm and a host of major winners at LIV Golf outweighed Rory McIlroy’s warning that he risked sacrificing the chance to play in the Ryder Cup and golf’s major championships.
Speaking on the eve of the LIV Golf’s $25 million opening event under floodlights at Riyadh Golf Club tomorrow, the Co Antrim man (22) said he took McIlroy’s thoughts into account but opted to sign for the Saudi-backed league because it appealed to people his age.
“Obviously it was a decision that I made,” McKibbin said of the 14-event league where there are no world ranking points and 54 players play just three rounds with a shotgun start for $25 million each week.
“Obviously being young and 22, I’ve watched this for the last couple years since it started, and it’s something that I’ve really liked to watch, something very different, something that probably appeals to more people my age.
“I think the opportunity to get to play with these guys here and learn from some of the best players in the world week in, week out is something that appealed very, very nicely to me.
“I liked the whole concept of everything, as I said, something from a younger age standpoint is something that – I sort of liked the atmosphere of it.
“It was something cool and something new to me and something I’m very much looking forward to.”
As for his chats with McIlroy and the Holywood star’s warning that he was potentially making a “sacrifice” by jeopardising his chances of playing in majors and the Ryder Cup, McKibbin said he took that into account.
“Yeah, it was definitely in my mind, but to me, I wasn’t in any of those anyway,” said the Newtownabbey native, who has qualified for The Open at Royal Portrush but none of the other majors.
“Again, the opportunity to get to play with guys out here more often, more consistently was definitely a huge factor.
“I’m not in those majors anyway at the minute, so it really didn’t bother me too much.”
Speaking alongside his Legion XIII team mates John Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton and Caleb Surrat, the Antrim man said he’d enjoyed his time witht them so far this week and was looking forward to the first round, where he will tee off from the 12th with fellow rookies, Jinichiro Kozuma of Japan and Denmark’s Frederik Kjettrup.
“Yeah, it’s been an incredible last couple of days getting to hang out with these guys and playing together and then alsojust the whole experience of something being new,” he said.
“It’s been really cool just to see this whole new environment, especially night golf this week. It’s been pretty cool the last couple of nights playing in the dark, and just really looking forward to getting started tomorrow and just seeing what the vibe is like all day tomorrow, and I’m really looking forward to it.”
As for first tee nerves, he said: “I’m not sure. I think it’ll definitely be a different feeling. I’ve never really done a shotgun start, and I think it’ll be certainly different as well with it being in the dark but something that we’ve got used to the last couple of days.
“I think it’ll be pretty cool, as well, with the music and stuff going on. Something I haven’t experienced before and something that I’m looking forward to listening and watching out for.”
Rahm said recently that McKibbin’s globetrotting experience on the DP World Tour was a factor in Legion XIII’s decision to sign the Holywood golfer and he reiterated that point in Saudi Arabia ahead of a season that will see the scores of all four players count each week in the battle for the $5million team prize.
“We all have the habit of waiting until the end for different reasons to sign, so my resting heart rate just keeps going up every week,” Rahm said.
“But it’s been amazing to get Tom as an addition. To get such a young player with his experience, already established and a winner as a professional multiple times [once on the DP World Tour and once on a US mini tour] is hard to come by.
“I’m thrilled that he decided to join the team or join the legion. Really looking forward to seeing what he can do because he’s very talented, and I think the sky’s the limit.”
McIlroy spoke to McKibbin about his potential move late last year and advised him against going to LIV.
“I really like Tom as a person, as a player,” McIlroy said in Dubai last month. “I think he’s got a ton of potential. Look, I said to him, if I were in your shoes, I would make a different choice than the one you’re thinking of making.”
McKibbin won in his rookie season on the DP World Tour in 2023 and earned his PGA Tour card last year to put himself in position to challenge for a Ryder Cup spot.
“I think, you know, working so hard to get your Tour card in the States, something that he did, to achieve that goal last year was a big achievement,” McIlroy said.
“I think what he potentially is sacrificing and giving up with access to majors, potential Ryder Cup spot … 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.”