Tom McKibbin responded to Rory McIlroy’s disappointed comments for the first time Thursday, backing up his decision to sign with LIV Golf.
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WhenTomMcKibbinhadacareer-definingdecisiontomake,hecalledRoryMcIlroy.
McKibbin,whogrewupatthesameclubMcIlroydidinHolywood,NorthernIreland,haddevelopedarelationshipwiththeworldNo.2.WhenMcKibbinearnedhisPGATourcardlastNovemberattheDPWorldTourChampionship,McIlroywaswaitingtocelebratewithhisprotege.
HewasalsodisappointedwhenMcKibbinsignedwithLIVGolfthisspring,forgoingPGATourmembershiptojointheSaudi-backedcircuit.
“IreallylikeTomasaperson,asaplayer.Ithinkhe’sgotatonofpotential,”McIlroysaidinJanuary.“Look,Isaidtohim,ifIwereinyourshoes,Iwouldmakeadifferentchoicethantheoneyou’rethinkingofmaking.Ithinkworkingsohardtogetyour(PGA)TourcardintheStates,somethingthathedid,toachievethatgoallastyearwasabigachievement.
“Ithinkwhathepotentiallyissacrificingandgivingupwithaccesstomajors,potentialRyderCupspot,dependingon,youknow,howhewouldplay
