Rory McIlroy said 'it would be a little disappointing' if his protege signed with LIV Golf

Rory McIlroy has known Tom McKibbin since he was 10 years old.

McKibbin, who grew up playing at the same club McIlroy did in Holywood, Northern Ireland, has looked up to the World No. 3 since he was a youngster. The two have become good friends, and last year when McKibbin locked up his PGA Tour card after finishing in the top-10 of the DP World Tour season-long standings, perhaps no one was happier for McKibbin than McIlroy.

However, McIlroy's 22-year-old protege may not end up playing on the PGA Tour this year after all.

Last week, reports surfaced that McKibbin signed with LIV Golf, perhaps the final offseason move for the league that begins its fourth season next month in Saudi Arabia. The signing hasn't been announced yet, with McKibbin even refusing to acknowledge the reports last week at the Team Cup. However, barring any last-minute changes, McKibbin will be the fourth member of Jon Rahm's Legion XIII team and the final signing to complete the LIV Golf roster for 2025.

On Wednesday, ahead of his title defense at the DP World Tour's 2025 Hero Dubai Desert Classic, McIlroy was asked about his reaction to McKibbin's decision, and his answer was nearly 3 minutes long.

"I have known Tom since he was 10 years old, 11 years old, and as soon as he got the offer, he rang me. I just landed in New Zealand. We had a really good conversation," McIlroy said. "And I talked to him multiple times over the course of December to sort of get a feel for what he was thinking, and obviously ... basically what he was going to do. And all I could do is give my perspective.

"I really like Tom as a person, as a player. I think he's got a ton of potential. Look, 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.

"I think what he potentially is sacrificing and giving up with access to majors, potential Ryder Cup spot, depending on, you know, how he would play, it just wouldn't have been — you know, depending — look, I don't think anything is official yet. But if I were in his position and I had his potential, which I think I have been before, I wouldn't make that decision. But 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."

McIlroy is correct. A decision hasn't been announced yet, so it's possible McKibbin may have changed his mind. But there's no doubt about it: LIV Golf going after one of its most outspoken critic's protege seems like an intentional, calculated move. And it begs the question of how close is the fracture in professional golf to actually coming together on top of other decisions the league made this offseason, like changing its schedule to go head-to-head against the PGA Tour's biggest events.

"Yeah, look, it would be — personally for me it would be a little disappointing if it were to happen but again, it's not — 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," McIlroy continued. "But at the same time, I feel like he's giving up a lot to not really benefit that much, you know."

McIlroy said McKibbin was "very open" to hearing his perspective in their numerous conversations.

"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," McIlroy said. I'm always going to try to help him in whatever way that I can.

"But you know, whatever way he chooses to go, you know, 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."

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Rory McIlroy said Tom McKibbin's LIV Golf decision is 'disappointing'