Ryder Cup 'best shot' points goal as Holywood's Tom McKibbin plays LIV Golf waiting game
Tom McKibbin still has two years left on his LIV Golf contract as a member of the back-to-back title-winning Legion XIII team captained by Jon Rahm.
But, as the Holywood man waits to see what lies ahead for the breakaway circuit following the loss of funding from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), he is aiming to rack up lots of Ryder Cup points between now and the end of the year.
McKibbin is at The Belfry this week for the Husqvarna British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo, the opening event in a year-long qualifying campaign to make the European team for next year’s centenary edition at Adare Manor in County Limerick.
Spread over two days due to weather issues at the Sutton Coldfield venue, McKibbin opened with a four-under-par 68, which included a solitary bogey at his closing hole on Friday morning.
“Yeah, played nicely for the two attempts we were out there,” he said of being affected by weather suspensions in the $3.5 million event on Thursday. “Yeah, very happy with the score as I have never played great round here in the past, so it was nice to shoot a good number.”
In his two previous appearances in the prestigious tournament, McKibbin had missed the cut on both occasions after signing for scores of 74 and 75.
“I’ve struggled a little bit with everything here,” admitted the 23-year-old, smiling. “I’ve struggled off the tee and also on the greens as well when I’ve been here before.
“In the past, it’s been a little bit windier than this and some of the tee boxes are quite sheltered and the ball tends to move quite a bit. I skipped it last year and was hoping that if I came back I might play well at some point.”
More of the same and McKibbin can get off to a flying start in his bid to be part of Luke Donald’s team next September as the Englishman attempts to create history by becoming the first three-time winning captain in the Ryder Cup.
“That would be pretty special,” admitted McKibbin, with next year’s match also being the centenary edition. “To play a Ryder Cup in Ireland would be a bucket-list thing to do. Yeah, I’ll definitely give it my best shot.”
McKibbin, who joined LIV Golf in 2025, joined forces with Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton and Caleb Surratt to retain the circuit’s team title in last week’s season-ending event in Indianapolis.
Liv 2.0 has been floated by CEO Scott O’Neill, with Hatton, speaking at The Belfry earlier this week, saying that he “expects” the circuit to still be operating in some form next year.
“I’ve still got a couple of years left at least,” said McKibbin, confirming where he currently stands. “Yeah, there are obviously a lot of things to figure out and I know they are definitely trying their hardest.
“Yeah, as far as I am concerned, I’ve got a couple of years left, but, at the same time, I am going to play as much as I can over here until the end of the year and then see what happens. I’m playing Ireland, Wentworth and France. Still undecided about the Dunhill then Spain and India.”
A posse of LIV players, including Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter, will be teeing up in this year’s Dunhill Links, so why is McKibbin, who has played in the pro-am for the last three years and finished in the top 15 on two of those occasions, undecided?
“The weather,” he said, laughing. “I’ve played well every year I’ve teed up in it. I just feel that one year I am going to get screwed over by the weather, but I might be there!”