Tour pro denies 'bitterness' over Tom McKibbin's reported LIV Golf move
England's Jordan Smith has insisted he is 'not bitter' on missing out on a PGA Tour card in light of Tom McKibbin's reported decision to join LIV Golf.
England's Jordan Smith has insisted he feels no bitterness towards Tom McKibbin despite the implication's of his reported switch to LIV Golf.
It is understood McKibbin, 22, will be named as Jon Rahm's final signing for his Legion XIII quartet.
Rahm has been on a recruitment drive in recent months and it is understood an agreement has been made whereby McKibbin will pocket an up-front fee of £4m ($3.3m).
If that were to happen, Rory McIlroy's protégé would forfeit the PGA Tour card he won late last year at the DP World Tour's season finale.
McKibbin beat Smith to the final card on offer, joining Rasmus Hojgaard, Thriston Lawrence, Paul Waring, Jesper Svensson, Niklas Norgaard, Matteo Manassero, Thorbjorn Olesen, Antoine Rozner and Rikuya Hoshino.
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The aforementioned Smith was the unfortunate bubble boy.
Telegraph Sport have reported that had he put pen to paper on his LIV contract a week earlier, then Smith would've been bumped up.
"Absolutely not," he told the publication when asked if there was any animosity.
Smith and McKibbin were on the same side at the Team Cup in Abu Dhabi.
Great Britain and Ireland thrashed Continental Europe 17-8 in the valuable Ryder Cup warm-up.
Continued Smith: "I mean, the only thing is I didn't have a card and I don't have a card so it doesn’t really change anything for me.
"Tom's got to look after himself, I've got to look after myself."
McKibbin's move is yet to be officially announced.
Welcome the newest member of the Fireballs GC, Luis Masaveu! pic.twitter.com/vExmeD6wfI
— Fireballs GC (@fireballsgc_) January 10, 2025
LIV's third full season gets underway in Riyadh next month.
The other teams are shaping up.
Last week, Sergio Garcia confirmed Luis Masaveu has joined his Fireballs, replacing Eugenio Chacarra.
Chacarra was deemed surplus to requirements by the former Masters winner.
The 26-year-old has since criticised LIV in an explosive interview with FlushingIt.
He criticised the breakaway tour for not following through with promises that were made when he signed on the dotted line in 2022.
Chacarra complained that the breakaway tour never followed through with their promise for world ranking points.
He was also dismayed that he was hit with sanctions by the PGA Tour, despite being told the contrary.
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