Rory McIlroy has expressed his disappointment as fellow Northern Irishman and mentee Tom McKibbin closes in on a move to the breakaway LIV Tour.
McKibbin had secured a PGA Tour card in Dubai last November but is now set for a move to Jon Rahm’s team on the Saudi Arabia-funded golf circuit.
"Personally for me it would be a little disappointing if it were to happen," said McIlroy on the imminent switch.
Four-time major champion McIlroy has mentored McKibbin ever since the 22-year-old emerged as a junior at the Holywood Golf Club near Belfast.
"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," McIlroy said on the sidelines of the upcoming Hero Dubai Desert Classic.
"At the same time, I feel like he's giving up a lot to not really benefit that much. No one knows exactly how much he's going to get.
Extremely honoured to be part of this GB&I Team. Thank you @JustinRose99 for the opportunity and huge thanks to @LukeDonald and all the team working behind the scenes who made it amazing! pic.twitter.com/GzIUy0wmuo
— Tom McKibbin (@tommckibbin8) January 13, 2025
"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."
McKibbin is expected to join two-time major champion Rahm, England's Tyrrell Hatton and the United States' Caleb Surratt in the LIV team.
"I have known Tom since he was 10, 11 years old, and as soon as he got the offer, he rang me. I talked to him multiple times over the course of December to get a feel for what he was thinking, and basically what he was going to do," McIlroy said.
"All I could do is give my perspective. 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."
