“I have known Tom since he was 10 years old, 11 years old, and as soon as he got the offer, he rang me.”
County Down man Tom McKibbin looks to be on his way to LIV Golf.
It was revealed last week that the 22-year-old is set to join the Saudi-backed golf league, and McKibbin’s refusal to comment on the situation only added to the speculation.
Ahead of the Team Cup, where McKibbin was representing Great Britain & Ireland, he said: “I’m not going to make any comments this week out of respect for Justin (Rose) and Luke (Donald) and this tournament.”
McKibbin made a dramatic birdie on the final hole of November’s DP World Tour Championship to secure his PGA Tour card for the season.
This made the LIV move all the more surprising, with Pádraig Harrington advising the youngster to play in the States rather than defect to the smaller albeit lucrative LIV Tour, which does not give ranking points.
Harrington said: “He was set to go to the US and everybody goes. He’s young and I think he still would have been better off learning to compete and win more in Europe and take a few starts in the States.
“If he stays focused in Europe for a few years he would become a prolific winner – and that would be nice at that stage.
“If he’s gone to LIV, the question is with the smaller fields, no cut, would he get into contention more? – If he gets into contention more, it’s a good move.
“If he’s finishing 25th on the PGA Tour or 15th in LIV – you’re going to make double the money on LIV, but you’re not learning anything.”
Holywood Golf Club is the home of both McKibbin and Rory McIlroy, with the latter revealing that the young star rang him for advice when he first got the offer from LIV.
Being one of the main voices in the game to speak out against LIV Golf since it first came into existence in 2021, unsurprisingly McIlroy advised McKibbin not to join.
The four-time major winner is now a main player in brokering partnership talks between the PGA Tour and LIV, but players in the Saudi tour are still barred from playing in the Ryder Cup – although this may soon change.
Ahead of this week’s Dubai Desert Classic, McIlroy revealed:
“I have known Tom since he was 10 years old, 11 years old, and as soon as he got the offer, he rang me.
“I just landed in New Zealand. We had a really good conversation. And I talked to him multiple times over the course of December to sort of get a feel for, you know, what he was thinking, and obviously what — you know, yeah, basically what he was going to do. And all I could do is give my perspective.
“I really like Tom as a person, as a player. 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.”
“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.
“I think what he potentially is 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.
“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.
“But I’m not him. I’m not in his shoes. He’s a grown man at this point and can make his own decisions. All I can do is try to give him my perspective.
If McKibbin’s move does go through, he will more than likely be joining Jon Rahm’s Legion XIII team.
The Spaniard said: “I can’t tell you what a good and bad environment is for Tom. I think that’s an answer for him.
“I think it is a good environment as any, really. It’s just as competitive as pretty much any other tour.
“You have to go out there and play against some of the best players in the world, so yeah, it’s an environment in which you can grow very rapidly, as well.
“He’s a fantastic player, and the possibilities for him are endless whenever he decides to do.”
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