There is another side that believes that the Northern Irish golfer made a good move, feeling that the PGA Tour will lose the status it has.

Tom McKibbin of Northern Ireland has spurned the advice from mentor Rory McIlroy by giving up a PGA Tour card to join Saudi-backed LIV Golf. McKibbin, a 22-year-old who won his only European tour event in 2023,

"Earns a PGA tour card via DP Tour and then moves to LIV… he’s prevented Jordan Smith getting his Card which could have changed his career."

Tom McKibbin learned to play golf at Holywood GC in Northern Ireland, the same golf club as Rory McIlroy; the 22-year-old gives up the PGA Tour card he won for 2025 season to join LIV Golf where he teams up with Jon Rahms Legion XIII;

LIV Golf announced it has signed Northern Ireland’s Tom McKibbin. McKibbin, 22, has been linked to the Saudi-backed league for months, and did not comment on the speculation when pressed earlier this month at the DP World Tour’s Team Cup.

Tom McKibbin seals his switch to LIV Golf in what will be a lucrative move for the 22-year-old from Northern Ireland.

Tom McKibbin has decided to forgo his PGA Tour card and complete a lucrative switch to the Saudi-funded LIV Golf circuit. McKibbin, who is 106th in the world rankings, announced that he will be joining John Rahm’s Legion XIII team ahead of the 2025 season.

Jon Rahm has made a splash signing before his second LIV Golf season. Twenty-two-year-old Tom McKibbin, who is currently 21st in the European Ryder Cup rankings, will join Rahm’s Legion XIII and play alongside him,