Padraig Harrington has questioned the wisdom of Tom McKibbin joining LIV, arguing it could make it harder to obtain entry into the majors.
The 22-year-old McKibbin, the 2023 European Open champion and currently 114th in the world, is set to join the Saudi-backed Tour, it was reported last week, with speculation that he was set to link up with Jon Rahm's Legion XIII team for the coming season.
The shock news arrives following a season in which McKibbin, a DP World Tour regular for the past two years, gained a PGA Tour card for 2025.
His defection to LIV would see him sacrifice his PGA Tour card and place his chances of future Ryder Cup participation in jeopardy.
Speaking to bunkered.co.uk, Harrington reckoned that his countryman would be "better off" trying to compete and win in Europe as well as earning entry into PGA Tour events.
"He's done what he needs to have done. Got through the Challenge Tour, won on (the DP World) Tour. Going very nicely.
"It's an interesting one. He was set to go to the US. He’s young and I think he still would have been better off learning to compete and win more in Europe and take a few starts in the States.
"If he stays focused in Europe for a few years he would become a prolific winner – and that would be nice at that stage. He’s gone to LIV so the question is with the smaller fields, no cut, would he get into contention more? If he gets into contention more it's a good move.
"If he ends up in the middle of the pack, it’s not a good move, but nor would the PGA Tour have been a good move if he’s finishing 25th – 25th on the PGA Tour or 15th in LIV – you’re going to make double the money on LIV but you’re not learning anything."
Three-time major winner Harrington acknowledges the attraction of the LIV money but insists it's not life-altering money for someone with McKibbin's career prospects.
In his interview, the Dubliner placed great store on McKibbin's motivation, expressing the hope that the Down man was eyeing more opportunities to win in tournaments in the smaller fields on the Saudi-financed tour.
"Wherever he is he’s got to be competing to win. I hope he’s gone to LIV with the intention that it's a smaller field.
"The surprise is it makes it harder to make the Ryder Cup team and play in the majors. He will tell you that's his goal. The upside is if he gets in contention more often, but it still makes it harder.
"I don’t think it’s life-changing money for him. If you were an amateur with no status, jump at it. It guarantees your future. His future was pretty guaranteed anyway.
"It’s all about the reasoning behind it. If he is going, is he going because he thinks he’s getting more chances to win? If that’s the case – great, but the downside is it’s going to make it harder to make the Ryder Cup team and play in the majors.
"In his progression, that’s what we were looking at. More wins, Ryder Cup, playing majors, competing in majors. That certainly stalls that.
"If he goes and wins on LIV, he could get picked for the Ryder Cup side. As long as he plays well and wins. If you play good golf, it takes care of itself. But he seemed to be on a nice progression."
