LIV Golf star shows why he ignored Rory McIlroy's plea at PGA Championship

Daily Mirror

19-05-2025

Tom McKibbin's professional career has gone from strength to strength since he burst onto the scene in 2021, and his earnings from LIV have dwarfed the sum he won at the US PGA
Tom McKibbin earned a modest £30,000 from his debut at the PGA Championship, a stark contrast to the millions he's made with LIV Golf. McKibbin burst onto the professional scene in 2021, and after only a few years on the DP World Tour, he secured his Tour Card and was offered the chance to shine on the PGA circuit for 2025.
However, an offer from rival LIV lured him away, despite the appeals of legendary compatriot Rory McIlroy. Both were present at Quail Hollow, but neither could match the eventual winner Scottie Scheffler.
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While the American pocketed £2.6 million for his victory, both Northern Irishmen left approximately £30k richer, with McKibbin trailing McIlroy by one shot in a tie for 50th place. This prize money pales in comparison to the sums McKibbin has been earning on the breakaway LIV, suggesting that his decision to ignore McIlroy's advice and choose the Saudi-backed circuit may have been the right move.
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Since making his LIV debut in Riyadh, McKibbin, as part of the Legion XIII team, has participated in seven events, with his best finish coming in Hong Kong - where his -11 final score saw him tied for sixth place, reports Belfast Live. Over these appearances, both individual and team prizes have seen him walk away with a staggering £3.2m, which significantly overshadows the money he took home at the USPGA and other major tournaments.
McKibbin's first two major appearances tell a similar story to the one at Quail Hollow last weekend, tying for 41st at the 2024 US Open, and 66th at his first Open Championship, earning small rewards for both outings. The young golfer from Holywood, who recently sidestepped McIlroy's advice at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, is keen on the LIV Golf League's appeal to youthful drive and ambition.
McIlroy, who developed his craft at the same club as McKibbin, had previously said: "No one knows exactly how much he's going to get. What I would say is, there is still a ton of money to be made on the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour.
"There is so much money in the game, and some would argue too much money in the game for the eyeballs that we attract. I think that for whatever the benefit may be, I don't think it's worth the sacrifice to what he's potentially going to give up."
Yet, McKibbin who trailed just behind McIlroy in North Carolina, shared his reasoning for the switch, saying: "It was definitely in my mind, but to me I wasn't in any [majors or Ryder Cup ] anyway. The opportunity to play with these guys out here more often and more consistently was definitely a huge factor.
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"I'm not in those majors anyway at the moment so that really didn't bother me too much. Being young and 22 I've watched this last couple years since [LIV] started.
"It's something I really like to watch. Something very different. It appeals to more people my age.
"The opportunity to learn from some of the best players in the world week in, week out is something that appealed very nicely to me. I liked the whole concept of everything."