Tom McKibbin believes moving to LIV Golf has benefited his game ahead of his third major appearance at the PGA Championship where he will link up with grand slam winner and fellow Holywood native Rory McIlroy at Quail Hollow.
McIlroy, who became the first European to complete the career grand slam at the Masters last month, initially advised McKibbin to swerve the advances of LIV Golf. But the 22-year-old has cashed in over €3m since joining the Saudi backed tour.
Ninety nine of the top one hundred golfers in the world are in the field for the year’s second major in Charlotte and McKibbin (124th in the OWGR) admits he was inspired by McIlroy’s Augusta victory and hopes he can channel that this week.
“I haven’t yet, but hopefully, I’ll catch up with him over the next couple of days and sort of get his thoughts on it,” McKibbin told the Irish Independent when asked had he spoken to his club mate since he won the Masters.
“I sent him a few texts after he won, but I actually haven’t seen him, I haven’t been home.
“It was very inspiring, very cool to watch. Obviously, the incredible amounts of pressure he must have been under that day. I know I was nervous watching on TV, never mind what he must have been feeling.
“But it was awesome to see him get him done and to see the relief was pretty cool. I was back in Dubai, late at night, watching the golf there. My sleep was all over the place.
“But it was inspiring to see. Just to see him go back there for how many years that was, and how hard it must have been to answer all the questions, and to go out there on that Sunday and play good, and then sort of struggle, and then play good and hit some of those unbelievable shots. It was just very cool to see, knowing how much he wanted that.”
McKibbin earned a late PGA of America exemption to compete this week and while he has his place in the Open Championship at Royal Portrush secured he faces US Open qualifying next month.
The Northern Irishman can break back into the top-100 in the world rankings with a strong performance this week and while his form has dipped slightly in recent weeks he believes practicing with the likes of his Legion XIII teammate Jon Rahm will only help him improve.
“No, very happy,” McKibbin said when asked of his comfort on LIV Golf. “I’ve had a great time. I’ve been very, very lucky to play with a lot of very good players so far this year and I’ve definitely seen my golf game improve, playing tough courses like Doral. So it’s definitely prepared me a little bit better. Yeah, I’m very happy.
“I’ve been very lucky to play with a lot of great players who have done well in these major championships and play against them.
“I’ve obviously been playing with Jon (Rahm) in a lot of practice rounds, and then on tournament days as well, so to see how they play the game and how they take on golf courses, it’s been, very eye-opening.”
McKibbin has long been tipped for stardom and to emulate McIlroy’s career in parts and he may still do that, he has just chosen a different path rather than take his PGA Tour card for the season.
Still, this is a chance for him to impress not just the major galleries this week but European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald.
McKibbin was part of the Hero Cup in January meaning he is on the Englishman’s radar for the Bethpage Black contest this September and this week will be one of the few chances he has to put his hand up for selection.
“Obviously, I’d love to be a part of a Ryder Cup team,” he said.
“It’s a by-product of playing well. But if I can take advantage of the big tournaments I’m in, you never know.”
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