'I'm not in those majors' - McKibbin on LIV switch
Tom McKibbin says jeopardising his chances of playing in majors and this year's Ryder Cup was not sufficient reason to decide against joining LIV Golf.
The Northern Ireland man, 22, will make his debut as part of Jon Rahm's Legion XIII team in the opening event of the Saudi-backed circuit which starts in Riyadh on Thursday.
McKibbin's decision means he has opted to forgo the PGA Tour card he secured in November and gone against the advice of compatriot and mentor Rory McIlroy.
The 2023 European Open winner has qualified for this year's Open Championship at Royal Portrush in his native Northern Ireland, but he had not secured a spot at the Masters, US PGA Championship or the US Open when making his big career choice.
"I'm not in those majors anyway at the minute, so it really didn't bother me too much," said McKibbin of the three majors in the United States.
"I've watched this [LIV Golf] for the last couple years since it started and it's something that I've really liked to watch, something very different, something that probably appeals to more people my age.
"The opportunity to get to play with these guys here and learn from some of the best players in the world week in, week out is something that appealed very, very nicely to me."
McKibbin joins compatriot McDowell
McKibbin's acceptance of LIV Golf's riches means he joins a breakaway circuit whose participants include major winners such as US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Cameron Smith and Sergio Garcia.
He becomes the second player from Northern Ireland to make the switch to LIV Golf, with 2010 US Open winner Graeme McDowell already part of the circuit.
McKibbin will play alongside Rahm, English Ryder Cup player Tyrrell Hatton and American Caleb Surratt on the Legion XIII team.
With LIV events not carrying world ranking points, McKibbin is certain to fall from his current 109th place, given he will be unable to play on the PGA Tour and with his appearances on the DP World Tour likely to be occasional.
The PGA Tour's protracted negotiations with LIV's backers, the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), are aimed at healing the split in world golf.
Those talks have yet to bear fruit, and McKibbin may be gambling that a resolution could be reached soon which would extend his playing options beyond the breakaway tour.
