Tom McKibbin has made his LIV Golf debut after making the move over and with the first even in Riyadh under the lights, the Northern Irishman has had a baptism of fire.
Thankfully for McKibbin, his opening round proved to be quite the success as he finished seven under par to be the top player from Legion XIII.
For McKibbin, who admitted he ignored Rory McIlroy’s advice to stay on the PGA Tour, the pressure was on really to perform and he did indeed deliver.
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However, while that pressure was there, it was also a brand new experience for McKibbin and he’s been giving his verdict on just what is was like being part of a LIV event.
Tom McKibbin reacts to his LIV Golf debut
With McKibbin the new kid on the block on LIV, he was bombarded with questions from the press after his excellent debut round.
And summing things up, McKibbin spoke on his nerves and admitted that unlike some, he really loved the added elements LIV brings to the table.
“Yeah, it was obviously very different, the warm-up. I’ve never experienced before. It was definitely a different experience,” McKibbin said.
“I wouldn’t really say I was too nervous. I was probably more anxious and not sure about how it was going to go, especially with playing at night, something that none of us have never really experienced.
“But I think sort of being able to get that out of the way today and know what’s coming for the next couple of days is good. As I said, it was something very different but very pleased that it didn’t affect me too much.”
Asked further on what his favourite part of being part of a LIV event was, McKibbin suggested he was actually a big fan of the on-course music.
“I really liked the music. I think the music was super cool, and then that halftime show standing on the 4th tee watching that was pretty awesome. I think all of us in the group really, really enjoyed that.”
How Tom McKibbin’s LIV debut compares to Jon Rahm and other stars
To shoot seven under on your debut on any tour is hugely impressive but to do it under the lights in Saudi was even more eye opening.
McKibbin’s seven under means he outscored Jon Rahm’s LIV debut at Mayakoba in 2024, where the Spaniard carded a five under before finishing the event at 10 under overall.
Bryson DeChambeau could only shoot level par on his LIV debut in Portland in 2022, while of all the debutants in LIV’s first even event in the UK in 2022, Charles Schwartzel’s five under was the best opening round.
McKibbin, then, has very much set his stall out early on LIV.
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