New LIV Golf star Tom McKibbin has no regrets about sacrificing major championship opportunities and a potential Ryder Cup place in exchange for a move to the Saudi backed tour.
McKibbin feels that playing alongside Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton at Legion XIII as well as a host of world class players like Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka outweighs Rory McIlroy’s concerns that he could lose out on competing in majors and this September’s Ryder Cup.
“Obviously it was a decision that I made,” McKibbin said speaking on the eve of the $25 million season opener under floodlights at Riyadh Golf Club.
McKibbin is the youngest new recruit on LIV Golf and joins a host of young talents including David Puig, Caleb Surratt and Joaquin Niemann and the 22-year-old says the LIV product appeals to people his age.
“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,” said the world number 109 who will not receive any world ranking points regardless of his performances in the 54-hole no cut format.
“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.”
News of McKibbin’s potential bombshell move to LIV Golf broke last month ahead of the Team Cup.
The Holywood clubman refused to be drawn on such speculation at the time but not even a word of warning from his sometime mentor Rory McIlroy could persuade him to back out of his reported three-year deal.
McIlroy warned McKibbin that he would be jeopardising his chances of playing in majors and the Ryder Cup, particularly since he had only recently earned a PGA Tour card for the coming season.
At present, McKibbin has qualified for the Open Championship in Royal Portrush but is not exempt into the other three majors and it is unlikely that he will play his way into them on merit unless he qualifies for the US Open at a qualifying event or is the highest ranked not exempt player inside the top-3 on the LIV standings as part of a new USGA exemption for the tour.
“Yeah, it was definitely in my mind, but to me, I wasn’t in any of those anyway,” said the Newtownabbey native.
“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.”
Although LIV’s night golf format means McKibbin will be making his debut under the bright lights, but his first grouping will certainly be away from the spotlight as he tees it up alongside fellow rookies Jinichiro Kozuma of Japan and Denmark’s Frederik Kjettrup from the 12th tee.
“Yeah, it’s been an incredible last couple of days getting to hang out with these guys and playing together and then also just 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.”
Often a cool customer, McKibbin isn’t sure if he will have first tee nerves or not but he has had to change his putter in order to be able to see the putter head in the darkness.
“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.”
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