Tom McKibbin Chooses LIV Golf Over PGA Tour
Tom McKibbin made waves when he decided to join LIV Golf instead of the traditional PGA Tour, a move that initially seemed to reduce his chances of playing in major championships.
Winning the Hong Kong Open
On Sunday, McKibbin won the Hong Kong Open with a commanding performance. Entering the final round with a one-shot lead, the 22-year-old Northern Irish golfer extended his lead to seven strokes by finishing 27 under par.
He opened the tournament with an impressive 60 and closed with a final-round 63. American Peter Uihlein finished solo second.
Pathway to Major Championships
Playing on LIV Golf typically does not award Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points, making it harder to qualify for majors through rankings. Instead, McKibbin focused on limited starts in other tours, such as the Asian Tour event he just won, which included several LIV players.
Masters and Open Championship Invitations
Thanks to a recent adjustment in qualifying criteria, McKibbin's victory at the Hong Kong Open earned him invites to the 2026 Masters Tournament and The Open Championship.
“Very excited to go back and play my third Open, it will be very, very cool,” McKibbin said. “And to have that drive down Magnolia Lane for the first time ever, it will be even more special. You know, I think sort of historic tournaments like this deserve those spots, and yeah, it’s great to sort of take advantage of those.”
Summary
Tom McKibbin's leap to LIV Golf looked risky but has now secured him major championship invitations through his Hong Kong Open triumph, highlighting a new path to golf’s biggest stages.