When Tom McKibbin declined to play on the PGA Tour and switch to LIV Golf, the budding pro also gave up on what seemed like a more likely path to a major championship.
Playing on LIV Golf and still not earning world ranking points means it will be difficult to climb high enough in OWGR to earn a major invitation. McKibbin has had to focus on limited starts elsewhere, such as this week’s debut on the Asia Tour (which is also attended by dozens of LIV pros).
McKibbin went into the final round with a one-point advantage and then won by one point seven.
The 22-year-old Northern Irishman comfortably won the Hong Kong Open on Sunday and has earned invitations to the 2026 Masters and Open due to recent changes to eligibility criteria.
“It’s great to be able to go back and play my third Open, it’s going to be really, really cool,” McKibbin said. “It’s going to be even more special to drive down Magnolia Lane for the first time ever. You know, I think a historic game like this deserves these seats and yeah, it’s great to take advantage of these opportunities.”
McKibbin shot a final-round 63 (after shooting 60 to start Thursday) and finished at 27 under. American player Peter Uihlein finished second individually.
McKibbin earned his PGA Tour card last year by completing the DP World Tour Dubai event, but chose to join LIV – despite the advice of his mentor Rory McIlroy.
McKibbin grew up at the same Holywood golf course as McIlroy, who has known him since he was 10 or 11 years old. When McKibbin received the invitation from LIV Golf, he called McIlroy to discuss the matter.
“We had a really good conversation,” McIlroy said earlier this year. “I spoke to him many times throughout December [2024] Kind of a sense of, you know, what he was thinking, obviously, you know, yeah, basically what he would do. All I can do is give my opinion. … I said to him, ‘If I were in your shoes, I would make a different choice than what you want to do.’ I think, you know, working so hard to get a Tour card in the U.S., what he did last year, to achieve that is a huge accomplishment. “
McKibbin instead joined Jon Rahm’s XIII Legion ranks. But now he will meet defending Masters champion McIlroy at Augusta National next year.
“That was a big factor when I was deciding whether to join LIV,” McKibbin said of winning the big start, “but I just seemed to back myself and play the best golf I could and see where that leads me. I played two tournaments [majors] Last year and twice next year. If you can play good golf, you can definitely still play in these big tournaments. “
