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

Tom McKibbin Wins Hong Kong Open and Earns Masters Invitation

Tom McKibbin made headlines by choosing LIV Golf over the PGA Tour, a decision seen as risky due to the lack of World Ranking points on LIV. Despite this, he secured a significant breakthrough by winning the Hong Kong Open on Sunday in China.

Choosing LIV Golf Over PGA Tour

By declining the PGA Tour, McKibbin initially gave up a more straightforward route to major championships. LIV Golf events do not award Official World Golf Ranking points, making it harder for players to qualify for major tournaments through ranking.

Victory at Hong Kong Open

McKibbin focused on limited starts in other tours, including the Asian Tour, where many LIV players competed. Entering the final round with a one-shot lead, the 22-year-old Northern Irishman surged ahead to win by seven shots, finishing at 27 under par after a final-round 63 and an opening 60.

Quotes from Tom McKibbin

“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.”

Major Championship Invitations

Thanks to a recent change in qualifying criteria, McKibbin’s win earned him invitations to the 2026 Masters and Open Championship, prestigious events that will mark significant milestones in his career.

American Peter Uihlein finished solo second in the tournament.

Summary

Tom McKibbin’s bold choice of LIV Golf has not stopped him from earning major championship invitations, proving the viability of alternative paths in professional golf today.

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GOLF.com — 2025-11-03