Tom McKibbin reveals LIV Golf contract situation amid uncertain future

Tom McKibbin has confirmed he still has "a couple of years left" on his LIV Golf contract and expects the breakaway tour to continue in some form next year.

The Northern Irishman, a mentee of Rory McIlroy, joined LIV for the 2025 season, but his future with the circuit remains uncertain as its long-term prospects continue to be debated.

LIV, which launched in 2022, is seeking new investment after Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund withdrew its financial support.

Chief executive Scott O'Neil has confirmed a term sheet has been signed with a potential new investor, understood to be London-based private equity firm BC Partners, with the transaction expected to be finalised next month.

Player buy-in is understood to be crucial to getting the deal over the line, with several LIV stars reportedly considering whether to commit to a "2.0" version of the circuit that could feature a reduced 10-event schedule in 2027 and smaller prize purses.

McKibbin appeared to poke fun at the uncertainty surrounding his future at LIV's season finale last week by selecting "Breaking Free" from High School Musical as his song of choice for the party hole.

His Legion XIII team-mate Tyrrell Hatton also raised eyebrows by walking out to Queen's "I Want to Break Free".

Golf journalist and author Alan Shipnuck claimed Jon Rahm had initially selected Taylor Swift's "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together", only for the choice to be vetoed.

Speaking to The Scotsman after the opening round of the British Masters, McKibbin confirmed he still has "a couple of years left" on his LIV contract and believes the league will still be operational next year.

"There are obviously a lot of things to figure out and I know they are definitely trying their hardest," he said.

"As far as I am concerned, I've got a couple of years left, but, at the same time, I am going to play as much as I can over here [on the DP World Tour] until the end of the year and then see what happens.

"I'm playing Ireland, Wentworth and France. Still undecided about the Dunhill, then Spain and India."

McKibbin will be desperate to play well on the DP World Tour's Back 9.

European Ryder Cup qualification begins this week and McKibbin will be eyeing up a spot on Luke Donald's dozen that will take on Jim Furyk's United States next September at Adare Manor in County Limerick.

"That would be pretty special," said McKibbin of qualifying for the team. "To play a Ryder Cup in Ireland would be a bucket-list thing to do. Yeah, I'll definitely give it my best shot."

McKibbin's route to the team will not be entirely straightforward.

Earlier this year, the DP World Tour struck a deal with several LIV players to allow them to compete on the rival circuit without incurring sanctions from the European-based tour.

It meant they could remain members of the DP World Tour and therefore eligible for the Ryder Cup.

But that agreement only applies to this year and will not be available in 2027 should LIV survive.

The situation will also be a headache for Rahm and Hatton.

Captain Donald told BBC Sport this week that Ryder Cup Europe briefly entertained the thought of awarding LIV players points for their performances on the rival tour.

"It was just too much uncertainty to think about giving them points for the Ryder Cup," he said.

Donald acknowledged the situation could prove challenging for him too.

"I think every captain deals with a lot of challenges in the Ryder Cup," Donald said.

"I think I've probably been the only one to deal with a changing landscape in golf.

"And it's been challenging at times, you know, it certainly has.

"But I think one of my strengths is just being very much in the present and having high standards for things that I can control and not really caring about things out of my control.

"Just dealing with them as they come. So, again, nobody knows what the future of LIV is going to be next year.

"Nobody knows which players are going to come and which are going to go.

"I try not to lose too much sleep about it, because it's just out of my control.

"Once it happens, then if I have an opportunity to change that, then I will. If not, I'm just going to go about my business."