Rory McIlroy has warned fellow Holywood golfer Tom Mckibbin off his reported move to rival LIV Golf league a day after John Rahm said LIV would be 'a good environment'.
McIlroy explains that in a conversation with the 22-year-old, he advised against joining LIV and that it would hamper his career, especially after achieving a PGA Tour card in his rookie year.
"I really like Tom as a person, as a player," McIlroy said in his pre-tournament press conference.
"I think he's got a ton of potential. I said to him, if I were in your shoes, I would make a different choice than the one you're thinking of making.
"I think working so hard to get your [PGA] Tour card in the States, something that he did, to achieve that goal last year was a big achievement.
"What he potentially is sacrificing and giving up with access to majors, potential Ryder Cup spot, depending on how he would play…if I were in his position and I had his potential, which I think I have been before, I wouldn't make that decision," adds McIlroy.
The Holywood native reflects that it wouldn't be a decision he would make, but makes it clear he won't be standing in McKibbin's way if he does choose to make the controversial move.
"I'm not him. I'm not in his shoes. He's a grown man at this point and can make his own decisions. All I can do is try to give him my perspective. Personally for me it would be a little disappointing if it were to happen.
"I made it perfectly clear: I am not going to stand your way if you need to make the decision you feel like you need to make for yourself. But at the same time, I feel like he's giving up a lot to not really benefit that much."
"At the end of the day, 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," McIlroy added. "I'm always going to try to help him in whatever way that I can.
"Whatever way he chooses to go, he's going to live with it, which is totally fine. I think we all see the potential that he has, and I definitely think he can be a top-10 player in the world. But obviously his ranking won't show that for the next couple years if he makes one decision over another."
McKibbin has been unwilling to comment on the speculation that he is set to join John Rahm's Legion XIII team but several prominent golfers have made comment including Padraig Harrington.
Rahm disagreed with his rivals that LIV would negatively affect the youngsters' career in comments yesterday.
"I can't tell you what a good and bad environment is for Tom [McKibbin]," Rahm said ahead of his Hero Dubai Desert Classic debut. "I think that's an answer for him. I think it [LIV] is a good environment as any, really."
The former former NBA and NHL executive Scott O'Neil has been appointed as the new CEO of LIV Golf, taking over day-to-day management of the Saudi-funded breakaway from Greg Norman.
Norman was a divisive figure in golf's ongoing civil war, with both Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods calling for him to quit.
McIlroy said in November 2022 that Norman should "exit stage left" to allow the "adults" to negotiate a deal between golf's warring factions.
Two weeks later, Woods was asked whether LIV and golf's traditional tours could co-exist.
"Not right now, not with their leadership, not with Greg there and his animosity towards the tour itself. I don't see that happening," the 15-time major winner said.
Announcing O'Neil's appointment on Wednesday, LIV Golf chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan said: "On behalf of the Board of Directors, we welcome Scott to the LIV Golf family, knowing he will capitalise on everything that has been accomplished over the past three years.
"When we launched LIV Golf, there was no one that made more sense to lead the organisation other than Greg Norman. I thank him for everything he has done to establish, launch and grow our league. He has been instrumental to LIV's success."
