Rory McIlroy has expressed his disappointment at the prospect of fellow Northern Irishman Tom McKibbin joining LIV Golf and has warned him it is not worth the sacrifice.

Rory McIlroy said he advised good friend and fellow countryman Tom McKibbin against bolting for LIV Golf because he didn’t believe the sacrifice, at this stage of his career, was worth it.

The ongoing rift in the golf world has created plenty of wild narratives, and another appeared to be developing this week when PGA Tour loyalist Rory McIlroy publicly advised friend and fellow

McIlroy has been an outspoken critic of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf League ever since the breakaway tour was introduced in 2022. The Irishman has also acted as a mentor to golf prodigy McKibbin, who comes from the same village as McIlroy in Belfast.

McKibbin’s potential move to LIV was first reported by Spanish website TenGolf. He grew up playing at the same club — Holywood Golf Club — as compatriot Rory McIlroy.

Currently, the golfer most talked about from Holywood Golf Club is not Rory McIlroy but young Tom McKibbin. At 22, McKibbin is on a solid career track, earning one of the 10 PGA Tour cards out of the DP World Tour last year, but intrigue abounds around the young Ulsterman’s future.

Rory McIlroy believes LIV Golf bound Tom McKibbin is “giving up a lot to not really benefit that much” including an imminent chance to reach the world’s Top-10 if he leaves the PGA Tour.

Rory McIlroy has urged his protégé to ditch his impending move to LIV Golf, warning Tom McKibbin that the $5 million (£4 million) fee is not worth the sacrifice.

McKibbin had secured a PGA Tour card in Dubai last November but is now set for a move to Jon Rahm’s team on the Saudi Arabia-funded golf circuit.

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'.