‘I’m not in those majors’ – McKibbin on LIV switch

Tom McKibbin claims that LIV Golf’s inclusion in the Ryder Cup and the potential for major success this year weren’t enough justification for resigning.

The 22-year-old Northern Irishman will make his Saudi-backed circuit debut in the opening competition, which kicks off in Riyadh on Thursday. Jon Rahm’s Legion XIII team will include him in the Saudi-backed circuit.

McKibbin has chosen to disregard Rory McIlroy’s advice and forgo the PGA Tour card he obtained in November.

The 2023 European Open winner made his big career choice by securing a spot at the Masters, US PGA Championship, or US Open, but he has qualified for this year’s Open Championship at Royal Portrush in his native Northern Ireland.

“I’m not in those majors anyway at the minute, so it really didn’t bother me too much”, said McKibbin of the three majors in the United States.

“I’ve watched this]LIV Golf] 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.

McKibbin’s acceptance of LIV Golf’s riches means he joins a breakaway circuit whose participants include major winners such as US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Cameron Smith and Sergio Garcia.

With Graeme McDowell, a 2010 US Open champion, already playing for LIV Golf, he becomes the second player from Northern Ireland to join the group.

On the Legion XIII team, McKibbin will compete alongside Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton, an English Ryder Cup player, and Caleb Surratt, an American.

Given that he won’t be able to play on the PGA Tour and that his DP World Tour appearances are likely to be on an sporadic basis, McKibbin is certain to drop from his current 109th place.

The PGA Tour’s protracted negotiations with LIV’s backers, the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), are aimed at healing the split in world golf.