Rory McIlroy has revealed he advised Tom McKibbin against switching to LIV Golf, adding he has had “multiple conversations” with his fellow Northern Irishman about the subject.
McKibbin, 22, has been linked with a move to the Saudi-backed circuit over the past week although there is no official confirmation he has decided to give up the PGA Tour card he secured in November.
“I’ve known Tom since he was 10, 11 years old and as soon as he soon as he got the offer he rang me. I’d just landed in New Zealand and we had a really good conversation,” said McIlroy in his pre-tournament press conference prior to beginning the defence of his Dubai Desert Classic title on Thursday.
“I said to him, ‘If I were in your shoes I would make a different choice to the one you’re thinking of making’.”
McKibbin, the 2023 European Open winner, has spoken of the regular help and advice he has been given by four-time major winner McIlroy while attempting to navigate the early stages of his golf career.
McIlroy added: “What he potentially is sacrificing and giving up with access to majors, potential Ryder Cup spot, depending on how he would play – I don’t think anything’s official yet… If I were in his position, which I think I have been before, and had his potential 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.”
‘Personally a little disappointing’
McIlroy, named winner of the 2024 Seve Ballesteros Trophy on Wednesday after being voted player of the year by his fellow DP World Tour professionals, added it would be “personally a little disappointing” if McKibbin does opt to make the LIV switch.
“I made it perfectly clear I am not going to stand in your way to make a decision that you feel like you need to make for yourself,” he said.
“But at the same time, I just feel that he’s giving up a lot to not really benefit that much.”
The world number three said McKibbin had been “very open to hearing my perspective”, adding that he would continue to be a “fan” of the 22-year-old and “help him in whatever way that I can”.
“Whatever way he chooses to go he’s going to live with it, which is totally fine.
“We all see the potential that he has, and I definitely think he can be a top-10 player in the world. But obviously his ranking won’t show that for the next couple years if he makes one decision over another.”
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