RORY McIlroy has warned Tom McKibbin ‘If I were you, I’d make a different choice’ in regard to his rumoured LIV Golf switch.
Speculation has been rife for the past week that the 22-year-old is set to join the Saudi-backed tour in a deal worth €8 million.
The Down native told reporters that McKibbin had phoned him for advice as he weighs up such a career-altering decision
The Northern Irishman is a bright talent having earned a PGA Tour card in his rookie year
McIlroy admitted McKibbin jumping ship would be ‘a little disappointing’
Such a decision would mark a massive deviation from McIlroy’s career trajectory – with McKibbin up until now appearing to be following in the four-time major winner’s footsteps.
After all, they hail from the same County Down golf club in Hollywood.
McIlroy, 35, was quizzed on the ongoing buzz linking his protege with Jon Rahm’s Legion XIII team.
Speaking on the eve of the Dubai Desert Classic, McIlroy told Golf Digest: “I really like Tom as a person, as a player.
“I think he’s got a ton of potential. I said to him, if I were in your shoes, I would make a different choice than the one you’re thinking of making.
“I think working so hard to get your [PGA] Tour card in the States, something that he did, to achieve that goal last year was a big achievement.
“What he potentially is sacrificing and giving up with access to majors, potential Ryder Cup spot, depending on how he would play…
“If I were in his position and I had his potential, which I think I have been before, I wouldn’t make that decision.
“I’m not him. I’m not in his shoes. He’s a grown man at this point and can make his own decisions.
“All I can do is try to give him my perspective.
“Personally for me it would be a little disappointing if it were to happen.
“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.
“But at the same time, I feel like he’s giving up a lot to not really benefit that much.”
“At the end of the day, he has to make his own decision, and when he does, whatever way that goes, I’m always going to be a fan of his.
“I’m always going to try to help him in whatever way that I can.
“Whatever way he chooses to go, he’s going to live with it, which is totally fine.
“I think we all see the potential that he has, and I definitely think he can be a top-10 player in the world.
“But obviously his ranking won’t show that for the next couple years if he makes one decision over another.”
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