He chose LIV Golf over the PGA Tour. Now he earned a Masters invite

Tom McKibbin Chooses LIV Golf Over PGA Tour

Tom McKibbin made headlines by joining LIV Golf instead of the more traditional PGA Tour. This decision initially seemed to limit his opportunities to qualify for major championships due to LIV Golf not awarding World Ranking points.

Victory at the Hong Kong Open

On Sunday, McKibbin won the Hong Kong Open by a commanding seven-shot margin. The 22-year-old from Northern Ireland led entering the final round and finished at 27 under par, highlighted by a final-round 63 after opening with a 60.

Impact of the Win

His victory earned him an invite to the 2026 Masters and the Open Championship, thanks to recent changes in qualifying criteria that recognize such achievements outside of World Ranking points.

“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.”

Further Context

McKibbin’s focus shifted to limited starts on tours like the Asian Tour, where many LIV players compete, to showcase his talent and secure these major invitations. American Peter Uihlein finished second in the Hong Kong Open.

Author's summary: By winning the Hong Kong Open on the Asian Tour, Tom McKibbin overcame LIV Golf limitations and secured his 2026 Masters invitation, highlighting his rising career.

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GOLF.com GOLF.com — 2025-11-03

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