Rory McIlroy suggests he’s a big fan of the player LIV Golf look set to sign as he tips him to be a top 10 player in the world

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With Tom McKibbin set to be the next player to join LIV Golf, it was inevitable that Rory McIlroy would be asked about the move ahead of the Dubai Desert Classic.

McIlroy will get his season underway in Dubai as he looks to kick things off for 2025 in similar fashion to last year.

However, while McIlroy is the star attraction for the tournament, the continuing swirl and talk of LIV Golf continues to dominate, this time around fellow Northern Ireland golfer, Tom McKibbin.

• READ MORE: Justin Rose reacts as Tom McKibbin said to be joining LIV Golf despite qualifying for the PGA Tour

McKibbin is set to sign a $5m deal with LIV and join Jon Rahm’s Legion XIII team for the new season although McKibbin himself has refused to confirm or deny a deal is 100% done.

But as McKibbin looks set to set himself up for life, McIlroy has suggested it might be a mistake.

Rory McIlroy has message for Tom McKibbin ahead of potential LIV Golf move

McIlroy was speaking to the press ahead of teeing it up in Dubai this week and was asked about the potential of McKibbin joining LIV.

And for McIlroy, the disappointment is there as he feels the 22-year-old can become one of the world’s best players.

“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. I’m always going to try to help him in whatever way that I can,” McIlroy said.

“I think we all see the potential that he has, and I definitely think he can be a Top-10 player in the world.

“Obviously his ranking won’t show that for the next couple years if he makes one decision over another.”

What Rory McIlroy had achieved at the same age as Tom McKibbin

With McKibbin still just 22 and only just making his way in the game, it makes it even more amazing what Rory McIlroy had done by the same age.

McIlroy had already won his first major in 2011 at the age of 21 and then added a second in 2012 by snatching the PGA Championship.

READ MORE: The major championship Tiger Woods said was the most difficult to win as it had the ‘best field’ in golf

Furthermore, 2011 also saw McIlroy become the youngest player ever to make $10m on the European Tour, while he’d also played in two Ryder Cups by the time he was McKibbin’s age.

McIlroy had also picked up the RTE Sports Person of the Year in 2011 as well.

As time moves on, Tom McKibbin will be hoping he can achieve even half of what McIlroy has.