McKibbin takes LIV Golf haul to $5.77m as Legion XIII wins team title in Michigan
Tom McKibbin described his first year with LIV Golf as “incredible” as he added $1.4 million to season’s earnings of $4.37m following Legion XIII’s LIV Golf Team title win in Michigan.
The team captained by Jon Rahm beat Cleeks GC in Friday’s quarterfinals at The Cardinal at St. Johns and HyFlyers GC in the semifinals before seeing off Bryson DeChambeau’s Crushers GC on the second playoff hole after they tied on 20-under
Rahm, who retained the LIV individual title last week despite not winning an event this season, teamed up with Hatton and birdied the second play-off hole against DeChambeau and England's Paul Casey.
The players claimed 40 per cent of the $14m top prize—$1.4 m each—with the remainder reinvested in the team.
"Getting to spend it with these three guys has been incredible," McKibbin said of his first year at LIV Golf with Rahm, Hatton and Caleb Surrat, where he finished 22nd in the money list with $4,373,801.
"I've learned so much, and just being around them has been really good.
“The whole year has been special, and today was a really cool day to go out there.
"You're out there on your own, but playing for three other guys, so to come out on top in the first year is really cool."
Despite being advised against the move by Rory McIlroy, McKibbin opted against taking up his PGA Tour card to join the Saudi-backed circuit and had no regrets.
“I'm very thankful to be a part of this team and to learn from two guys who are phenomenal players," McKibbin said of Ryder Cup stars Hatton and Rahm.
"Just watching the play-off, seeing those shots coming in and how clutch those guys are in those situations.
“I have learned a lot off both of them and I've become a better player because of it.
"Getting paired with some people in the tournament, people you've watched on TV, I've learned from them.
"Some of the golf courses were trickier than I'm used to, so getting a feel for those and develop my game through that. A lot of small things adds up to a big difference."
Graeme McDowell was 30th in the regular season standings with $3,909,268.
Picture: Tom McKibbin described his first year with LIV Golf as “incredible” as he added $1.4 million to season’s earnings of $4.37m following Legion XIII’s LIV Golf Team title win in Michigan.
