Rory McIlroy has opened up on his talks with Tom McKibbin as he voiced his 'disappointment' over his fellow Northern Ireland man's imminent move to LIV Golf.

McIlroy, who has mentored McKibbin during his early career, is set to link up with Jon Rahm's Legion XIII roster for the 2025 LIV season.

It is a lucrative move for the 22-year-old, who secured his PGA Tour card last November. It has been reported that McKibbin will earn in the region of $5m, considerably less than the amounts offered to other players who have made the switch in the past.

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“I don’t think it’s worth the sacrifice,” said McIlroy, who was speaking at a news conference ahead of the Dubai Desert Classic starting Thursday.

He added: “As soon as he got the offer, he rang me. We had a really good conversation and I talked to him multiple times over the course of December to sort of get a feel for what he was thinking and basically what he was going to do. All I could do is give my perspective.

“I really like Tom as a person, as a player. 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.’

“Working so hard to get your card in the States, something that he did, to achieve that goal last year was a big achievement. I think what he potentially is sacrificing and giving up with access to majors, potential Ryder Cup spot … I don’t think anything is official yet but if I were in his position and I had his potential, which I think I have been before, I wouldn’t make that decision.

“But 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."

Despite voicing his disappointment, McIlroy insists he won't "stand in the way" of McKibbin. He also says he will always be a fan for his compatriot.

He said: “Personally for me it would be a little disappointing if it were to happen but 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.”

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

“No one knows exactly how much he’s going to get. What I would say is, there is still a ton of money to be made on the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour. There is so much money in the game, and some would argue too much money in the game for the eyeballs that we attract. For whatever the benefit may be, I don’t think it’s worth the sacrifice to what he’s potentially going to give up.”

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