Tom McKibbin believes he has become a better player since joining LIV Golf this year and that his performances against better fields on tougher golf courses prove that.
McKibbin has shown remarkable consistency over the last two years spanning between the DP World Tour and LIV Golf. Last season, he won a PGA Tour card by registering nine top-10 finishes and an eleventh place finish at the DP World Tour Championship.
This year, the 22-year-old made the cut at the PGA Championship, finished in the top-6 twice on the DP World Tour, and has picked up four top-7 finishes in his maiden LIV Golf campaign.
“I’d definitely say I’m a better player now than I was this time last year especially on harder golf courses,” McKibbin told Irish Golfer after helping himself to a fourth team title with Jon Rahm’s Legion XIII including back to back wins in the last two events.
“My consistency has stayed this year which is nice after last year I was hoping to keep it on for this season and thankfully I have and hopefully I can keep it up.
“It’s been a good season, showing a good consistency. To have four top seven finishes against very good fields, another close one this week to a top-10. It’s been a pretty nice season.”
The world number 144 isn’t overly concerned with his Official World Golf Ranking at present. LIV have re-applied for ranking points and a successful application would likely open the door for some more blockbuster signings in the offseason.
McKibbin will return to the DP World Tour and his first event in Europe will be at the K Club for the Amgen Irish Open before travelling across the water to Wentworth’s BMW PGA Championship. He knows world ranking issues will sort themselves out if he can achieve his goal of winning for the first time since 2023.
“I’m looking forward to going back to Europe and playing in a few events and giving it my all and trying to get another win. It’s been over two years since I won in Germany and I would like to get that feeling again.”
Just two events remain on the 2025 LIV Golf calendar. Legion XIII look set to wrap up the team title, while there is still time for McKibbin to break his duck and enter the winners circle.
Joining LIV saw McKibbin forego the opportunity to play on the PGA Tour, a card which would have seen him play non-Signature Events and left him under pressure to finish inside the top-100 in the FedEx Cup to retain his playing privileges.
The Holywood clubman received his fair share of criticism but he’s happy to let people be entitled to their opinion, knowing himself that he has made the right decision for his career.
“Not really fearful of criticism,” he added. “I got a lot of it anyway, I think everyone that came here got a lot of backlash. I think really until you are in it and you come and experience it, it’s very hard to give an opinion without being here. I think a lot of people struggle with that, they have their opinions and that is fine but until you come and watch or be a part of it it’s hard to take on those opinions.”
Last week, LIV Golf announced that they have added a South African event for their 2026 schedule. Trump Doonbeg has long been mooted as a potential LIV venue and Trump courses have been regularly used on the circuit including the annual retreat to Trump Doral.
Irish Golfer understands that LIV are interested in bringing the tour to Ireland. In 2023, Trump’s son Eric said that Trump International Doonbeg could host an event in the future.
McKibbin would like to see LIV come to a links course in Ireland and singled out the Irish Open and the recent 153rd Open in Portrush as examples of how Irish fans could get behind it.
“It would be great to get one in Ireland,” said McKibbin. “LIV events are such a good vibe, a party atmosphere. I think for the spectators watching with the music and other things it’s really cool. The crowds that we get at Irish Opens and of course the Open Championship in Portrush, they know how to treat everyone well and greet everyone with great hospitality.
“I think if we could get an event there it would be great on a great links course, it would certainly make for a great week.”