Tom McKibbin makes his LIV Golf debut under floodlights today, but he may have seen the light long before Rory McIlroy advised him against signing for the megabucks Saudi league.
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WithinminutesofgivingapressconferenceinRiyadhalongsideLegionXIIIteammatesJonRahm,TyrrellHattonandCalebSurrat,theUSGAannouncedaUSOpenexemptionforthetopplayers(nototherwiseexempt)whoareinthetopthreeofthe2025LIVGolfIndividualStandingsonMay19.
McKibbin(22)hasonlyqualifiedforTheOpensofar,butevenbeforetheUSGA’sannouncement,heinsistedthechancetoplayalongsideMajorwinnerslikeRahmonaregularbasiswasworthwhathismentorRoryMcIlroysaidwastheriskofsacrificingthechancetoplayMajorsortheRyderCup.
“I’vewatchedthisforthelastcoupleofyearssinceitstarted,andit’ssomethingthatI’vereallylikedtowatch,somethingverydifferent,somethingthatprobablyappealstomorepeoplemyage,”McKibbinsaid.
AsforMcIlroy’sviewthathewasmakingtoobigasacrificeforwhatisbelievedtobeamodest$5mdeal,headmitteditwasafactorheconsideredanddismissed.
“Yeah,itwasdefinitelyinmymin
