Tom McKibbin still has big Ryder Cup ambitions despite LIV Golf drawbacks

While his world ranking has taken a hit, the Newtownabbey man has a chance over the next two months to put himself in a position to be considered a potential Ryder Cup player at Adare Manor

Tom McKibbin during a practice round in advance of the Amgen Irish Open at The K Club. Picture: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

TOM McKibbin hasn’t been invited by Luke Donald to be a gofer for Europe in the Ryder Cup team room at Bethpage later this month but he admits making the side remains one of his big ambitions as he chases his first Amgen Irish Open at The K Club this week.

Two years ago, the 22-year-old Newtownabbey star arrived at the North Course for his second Irish Open appearance with a DP World Tour win under his belt and a glittering future ahead.

While he didn’t make the side that won back the Ryder Cup in Rome, he was considered a talent of such obvious potential that he was being pencilled in as one to watch for this year’s clash in New York, especially after securing his PGA Tour card late last year.

But despite being advised against the move by Rory McIlroy, he decided instead to join Ryder Cup stars Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton at LIV Golf and insists he hasn’t looked back.

Time will tell if it’s proved to be a wise move given the politics of golf and the uncertainty surrounding the DP World Tour’s relationship with the Saudi-funded circuit.

With players currently appealing against their fines, it remains to be seen what McKibbin’s DP World Tour future might be.

"I think what he potentially is sacrificing and giving up with access to majors, potential Ryder Cup spot, if I were in his position and I had his potential, which I think I have been before, I wouldn't make that decision,” McIlroy famously said when McKibbin’s LIV move was confirmed in January.

McKibbin has no regrets about his decision and after winning $5.77m in his rookie season with Legion XIII - enough to be ranked inside corresponding top 25 on the PGA TOUR money list this year — he’s certainly laughing all the way to the bank.

While his world ranking has taken a hit as he’s fallen from a career high of 97th to 153rd this week, he has a chance over the next two months to put himself in a position to be considered a potential Ryder Cup player at Adare Manor, though doing it on limited starts will be difficult.

Rory McIlroy, left, and Tom McKibbin chat on the practice range before the Irish Open at The K Club in 2023. File picture: Eoin Noonan/Sportsfile

He remains a member of the DP World Tour and at 69th in the Race to Dubai, he can make the top 70 who contest the first playoff event in Abu Dhabi and make the top 50 who contest the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.

He’s ranked the 24th best European by DataGolf and while he’s not in any of the 2026 majors having played two of the four this year, getting back in the winner’s circle over the next few weeks would be a step forward on the road to Adare.

“Definitely in the future,” McKibbin said of his Ryder Cup ambitions. “Maybe not as much this year. Obviously, I'd love to be there. But it’s definitely a goal of mine, and to hopefully be a part of that team one day would be very nice.” He denied having any pangs of envy as he watched Rahm get a pick and teammate Hatton qualify for the side automatically on the back of just a handful of counting events.

"Yeah, obviously incredible,” McKibbin said of Hatton. “I think he only did it in like six or seven events, maybe. I think it just shows how well he played in those majors and the other big events outside of those.” 

With starts coming up at next week’s BMW PGA, the Alfred Dunhill Links and the Spanish Open and McKibbin can give himself a springboard to finish a consistent year on a high by getting back into the winner’s circle.

“I've been playing nicely so hopefully I can bring a little bit of that form into this week,” said the Holywood star, who helped Legion XIII win the season-ending LIV Team Championship.

“The course is looking good. Been out there for nine holes this morning. So I think with hopefully the way my game's shaping up, and I like the course, so hopefully I can have a good week.” He feels he’s a better player than ever thanks to LIV — "I've learned a lot from it, and I feel like my game has gotten a lot better because of it.” 

But he misses that winning feeling he experienced at the Porsche European Open in 2023 and while he’ll watch the Ryder Cup and says he’d jump at the chance to follow in the footsteps of Rasmus Hojgaard and soak up experience in the team room if asked, he’s focussed on finishing the season well.

“I come back here and I want to take what I've learned all year and really try and make a good dent in the next four or five events over here and try and get another win,” he said. “It's been been two years since the last one. So, yeah, I'd love to get out there and put myself in a position each week to hopefully contend.” The tree-lined fairways of the North Course at The K Club should suit his excellent tee to green game.

“This would be one of my favourite styles of golf,” he said. “Parkland. Good premium for driving it well. As I said, hopefully I keep the good golf going and can take advantage of a course that I like.”