Northern Ireland's rising golf star Tom McKibbin has silenced critics by racking up close to £3million in earnings since making the switch to LIV Golf in January.
The 22-year-old rejected a PGA Tour card and ignored advice from mentor Rory McIlroy to sign with the Saudi-funded breakaway tour — a decision that's already paying dividends.
McIlroy, a five-time major winner, has consistently spoken out against LIV Golf and advised fellow countryman McKibbin to remain loyal to the PGA Tour, cautioning that a move to LIV wasn't "worth the sacrifice" of facing the world's top players.
"If I were in his position, I wouldn't make that decision," McIlroy said back in January after McKibbin's choice became public. Yet McKibbin seems undeterred, especially after helping his Legion XIII team to a £2.5m prize by winning the team event at LIV Golf Mexico City on Monday.
Legion XIII - captained by Jon Rahm and including Tyrrell Hatton, Caleb Surratt, and McKibbin - dominated the competition, with each member collecting around £760,000. Though McKibbin wasn't the star of the event individually, his steady play was crucial to the team's success.
"It feels pretty good," McKibbin said. "It was a tough week for me, but today, having something to play for and try and help get a team win was pretty cool.
"And to be up there again was a lot of fun. Hopefully, we can do that a lot more."
This latest payday adds to McKibbin's earlier LIV accomplishments, where he earned £1.03m in Riyadh and another £845,500 in Adelaide. Across just three appearances, McKibbin has amassed £2.9m, a sum far surpassing the PGA Tour's £2.1 million average earnings for 2024.
McKibbin's rise on the LIV scene has been swift. After clinching a DP World Tour victory at the 2023 Porsche European Open, he secured his PGA Tour card last November with a clutch birdie on the final hole at the DP World Tour Championship.
Nevertheless, an £8m contract offer from LIV tempted him away to join Rahm's Legion XIII. "I've watched LIV Golf for the last couple of years, and it's something that appeals to people my age," McKibbin told BBC Sport. "The chance to play with some of the best players week in, week out is what drew me."
While the LIV Golf format offers guaranteed prize money and no cuts, critics warn that McKibbin's decision might hinder his development, given that non-PGA Tour players currently face barriers to competing in major championships.
Still, McKibbin shows no hint of second thoughts. "I'm not in those majors anyway at the minute, so it didn't bother me too much," he said.
Hailing from Newtownabbey, McKibbin becomes the second Northern Irish golfer to sign with LIV, following 2010 U.S. Open winner Graeme McDowell. His performances have earned praise from Rahm, who commented: "It should give him a lot of confidence to come in, play well, and get the team win."
At least for now, McKibbin's soaring bank balance is silencing any remaining sceptics. With nearly £3m secured in just a few weeks, his bold decision appears to have paid off... for now at least.
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