AIB has ended its sponsorship agreement with professional golfer Tom McKibbin who this week announced he was signing up to play on the LIV Golf Tour.
In a statement issued to Sport for Business this evening the bank said “AIB can confirm it is no longer a sponsor of Tom McKibbin arising from the changes announced to his playing schedule. AIB wishes Tom all the best in his future career.”
McKibbin was a star attraction at last year’s Amgen Irish Open and having secured a PGA Tour card for 2025 was expected to be an ambassador for Irish’s golf on the biggest stages, with a return for the bank as a result.
It signed McKibbin as an ambassador in July of last year, alongside fellow rising star Lauren Walsh
Financially he is giving up a lot less than the reported €5 million guarantee he is being paid.
But when it comes to potential legacy in the game, and his personal standing and reputation within the Irish sporting and business community, this is a marker that his stock has sunk.
It may of course transpire that an agreement is reached between the two sides of the sport, enabling a return to the majors and the tournaments that have stood the test of time.
Then he could be back in the fold, richer in cash and no poorer in terms of opportunity.
It’s unlikely though he’d be wearing the AIB logo on his sleeve.