Tom McKibbin: NI golfer, one of eight members released from the DP World Tour to play LIV

Tom McKibbin is among eight members of the DP World Tour who have been granted permission to play in LIV head-to-head golf tournaments.

Northern Ireland’s McKibben, along with Tyrell Hatton, Lauri Kanter, Thomas Detri, Adrien Mironek, Victor Perez, David Puig and Elvis Smiley, has been granted conditional exemptions for the 2026 season only.

The DP World Tour said in a statement that each member accepted conditions to be allowed to be released, which include “payment in full of all fines due for violations of DP World Tour regulations” as well as “participation in additional stipulated DP World Tour tournaments, associated media and promotional activities” and “withdrawal of all outstanding appeals.”

The statement continued, “The terms agreed to by these members will provide additional value to the DP World tour and benefit the entire members.”

“Provided that each member fulfills the conditions of their individual release, no disciplinary action under the regulations will be taken against them for playing in conflict tournaments on LIV Golf in 2026 and they will retain their membership status.”

The DP World Tour added that the issuances are “not precedent-setting” and that requests for further issuances from other members “will be considered on their individual merits in accordance with the regulations to which all members agree to abide.”

The DP World Tour will continue to take disciplinary action against members who compete in LIV conflict events without release.

McKibbin joined Jon Rahm’s LIV golf team for 2025 and cruised to victory at the Hong Kong Open in November to qualify for the Masters for the first time and secure his place in The Open.