Graeme McDowell has strong message for Tom McKibbin critics after LIV move

McKibbin joined Jon Rahm's LIV team in January

McKibbin's move to LIV earlier this year raised a few eyebrows, given his connection to Rory McIlroy from an early age, with McIlroy himself even admitting he had spoken to the 22-year-old and said: "I wouldn't do the same."

But fellow Northern Irishman McDowell, who will feature as a Sky Sports Golf analyst on The Open, exclusively live on Sky Sports, says he hasn't seen it have any short-term impact on McKibbin so far, and that playing alongside Jon Rahm can only be a good thing.

“I’d imagine it’s going to be a difficult week for Tom," said McDowell. "Tom is as much a part of this area as Rory and myself are. He’s a young lad with it all in front of him, stacks of talent.

“Listen, everyone has to choose their path, it doesn’t mean it’s the wrong path or right path. He just needs to get his head down and play golf. Getting an opportunity to stand beside Jon Rahm for a few years as a youngster is a great opportunity for him, and I certainly wish him well.

“He’s kicking on nicely. I don’t think there’s been any short-term effects from it, he’s a quiet lad, and I just hope people leave him alone and let him at his game.”

Rahm spoke earlier in the week of his admiration for McKibbin, even admitting he is jealous of his temperament.

“He’s a fantastic young man. For a 22-year-old to be as calm and collected as he is is quite phenomenal. He’s quiet by nature, but even in competition when things go wrong, he stays quite calm, and it’s just remarkable and an incredible gift to have for a young player.

“I don’t think I can relate to that whatsoever, so I’m a little bit jealous of that. I think it’s going to serve him very well in the long run.

“Obviously, I think he’s internally processing the same emotions that all of us are processing, but outwardly, he stays really, really calm, and that helps him quite a bit, on top of having a fantastic golf swing.”

Watch live coverage of The 153rd Open from Royal Portrush exclusively on Sky Sports and NOW from Thursday 17 July, with wall-to-wall preview coverage available from Monday 15 July on Sky Sports Golf.