Rory McIlroy has expressed disappointment over the imminent move to LIV Golf of Tom McKibbin, his fellow Northern Irishman and player he has mentored. “I don’t think it’s worth the sacrifice,” said McIlroy of the 22-year-old’s upcoming switch.
McIlroy has been close to McKibbin since the latter burst on to the scene as an exciting child talent. Last November, McKibbin’s rise continued with the securing of a PGA Tour card for 2025. However, it appears McKibbin will not take up that membership; having been targeted by Jon Rahm’s LIV team, he is set to move to the Saudi Arabian-backed circuit for a reported $5m plus further annual guarantees. The figures are dwarfed by those given to some others to swap traditional tours for LIV.
“As soon as he got the offer, he rang me,” McIlroy explained. “We had a really good conversation and I talked to him multiple times over the course of December to sort of get a feel for what he was thinking and basically what he was going to do. All I could do is give my perspective.
“I really like Tom as a person, as a player. I think he’s got a ton of potential. I said to him: ‘If I were in your shoes, I would make a different choice than the one you’re thinking of making.’
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“Working so hard to get your card in the States, something that he did, to achieve that goal last year was a big achievement. I think what he potentially is sacrificing and giving up with access to majors, potential Ryder Cup spot ... I don’t think anything is official yet but if I were in his position and I had his potential, which I think I have been before, 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. All I can do is try to give him my perspective.
“Personally for me it would be a little disappointing if it were to happen but I made it perfectly clear: ‘I am not going to stand your way if you need to make the decision you feel like you need to make for yourself.’ But at the same time, I feel like he’s giving up a lot to not really benefit that much.”
It appears strange that McKibbin would go against the guidance of McIlroy, such has been the four-time major winner’s influence. Both are in the field in Dubai this week for the Desert Classic, which McIlroy is looking to win for a third time in succession. Rahm is making a maiden appearance at the Emirates Club. Confirmation of McKibbin’s change of domain should arrive before LIV season begins in Riyadh next month.
“He has to make his own decision, and when he does, whatever way that goes, I’m always going to be a fan of his,” McIlroy added. “I’m always going to try to 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.
“I think we all see the potential that he has, and I definitely think he can be a top-10 player in the world. But his ranking won’t show that for the next couple years if he makes one decision over another.
“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. For whatever the benefit may be, I don’t think it’s worth the sacrifice to what he’s potentially going to give up.” – Guardian
Hero Dubai Desert Classic – Lowdown
Purse: €8.75 million (€1.5m to the winner)
Where: Dubai, UAE
The course: The Majlis Course at Emirates Golf Club – 7,439 yards par 72 – was originally designed by Karl Litten and was the first grass course built in the Middle East. A major renovation of the green complexes has been completed in recent years which has increased the size of the greens by an average 33 per cent in returning them to their original state and bringing greenside bunkers more into play.
The field: World number three Rory McIlroy is the headline act in a very strong field that also features Viktor Hovland and Tommy Fleetwood from the world’s top 10. Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton are among those LIV players kick-starting their seasons at the Rolex Series event in the desert. McIlroy is a course specialist, winning the first of four DDCs in 2009 and coming in here as back-to-back winner in 2023 and 2024 and seeking a three-peat.
Quote-Unquote: “It’s healed a lot the last couple weeks but it did bother me the last couple days. I forgot to bring my shoes that were half a size bigger that I used in Hawaii. These shoes were a little bit tight, but no issue. It should be fine” – Norwegian Viktor Hovland, who has been bothered by a foot injury, on neglecting to pack his bigger sized golf shoes.
Irish in the field: Pádraig Harrington kick-starts his 30th season on the DP World Tour with no sign of the ageing process impacting, as the 53-year-old continues to juggle a schedule between the European circuit and the Champions Tour stateside. Harrington is in a group with Joe Dean and Shubhankar Sharma for the opening two rounds (1st round, 3.25am, 7.25am Irish time); Tom McKibbin hast yet to officially confirm a move to LIV and tees up alongside Johannes Veerman and Elvis Smylie (1st round, 3.45am, 7.45am Irish time); Rory McIlroy is in a marquee three-ball with Tommy Fleetwood and Viktor Hovland (1st round, 4.05am, 8.05am Irish time) as he goes in search of a third straight DDC win.
Betting: Rory McIlroy knows this course like the back of his hand but is a very short-priced 100-3 favourite which, given his track record, may still prove tempting. However, in terms of value bets, it may be worth looking elsewhere with Jon Rahm rated an 11-2 chance and Tommy Fleetwood (four from four in last week’s Team Cup) priced at 11-1. In terms of each way value, big-hitting Niklas Norgaard is worth a look at 50s while Ryan Fox is priced at 80-1. Harrington is priced at 200-1.
On TV: Live on Sky Sports (live coverage 4.00am).
