Tom McKibbin Chooses LIV Golf Over PGA Tour
Tom McKibbin drew attention by opting to join LIV Golf instead of the PGA Tour, a decision that initially seemed to limit his chances for major championship invitations. LIV Golf events do not award World Ranking points, making it harder to climb the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) to qualify for majors.
Victory at the Hong Kong Open
Despite these challenges, McKibbin focused on limited starts outside LIV Golf, including the Asian Tour, where many LIV players competed. He entered the final round leading by one stroke and then surged ahead to win by seven shots at the Hong Kong Open in China.
Master and Open Championship Invitations
The 22-year-old Northern Irishman’s impressive performance earned him an invite to the 2026 Masters and the Open Championship, thanks to recent changes in qualifying criteria. McKibbin closed the tournament with a 63 after opening with a 60, finishing 27 under par overall.
“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.”
American Peter Uihlein finished runner-up, securing second place solo.
Summary
Tom McKibbin’s bold choice to join LIV Golf did not prevent him from securing a prestigious Masters invite through his Hong Kong Open win, demonstrating his emerging talent on the international stage.
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