Report: Jon Rahm set to make shock LIV signing

Jon Rahm is set to seal the shock signing of Tom McKibbin for his LIV Golf team.

As first reported by Spanish outlet Ten Golf, the Northern Irishman has emerged as the surprise leading candidate to replace the relegated Kieran Vincent in Rahm’s Legion XIII roster.

McKibbin, 22, is a DP World Tour winner but earned one of ten PGA Tour cards available last season and has duel membership across both circuits in the 2025 campaign.

LIV players are currently suspended indefinitely from the PGA Tour and McKibbin would be giving up the chance to play on the American circuit if he jumped ship for the Saudi-backed breakaway league.

And BBC Sport are now reporting that McKibbin is instead joining LIV in a multi-year deal.

• LIV Golf teams 2025: Every signing ahead of new season

• 7 big PGA Tour names missing from TGL

Rahm is perhaps LIV’s biggest signing so far, and, as the captain of Legion XII, is on the hunt for a new signing to complete his team that already includes Ryder Cup teammate Tyrrell Hatton and the talented young American Caleb Surratt.

The Spaniard revealed back in October that he had “six or seven targets” in mind for his next recruit, though rumours have been scarce over potential big name moves from the established tours.

A move for McKibbin following such transfer discussions, however, would certainly provide an element of shock going into the 2025 season.

The 2023 European Open winner, who grew up on the same Holywood golf course as Rory McIlroy, expressed his excitement in November when he sealed his PGA Tour card.

• PGA Tour pros penalised in costly rules mix-up

• Tiger Woods wins PGA Tour PIP to claim huge payday

“It would be pretty amazing to get over there and play some golf,” he said after earning the final spot in the DP World Tour’s 2024 finale in Dubai.

“I seem to like to play on the harder courses and I think that suits my game a little more. It’ll be exciting to get over there and see how it goes.”

Close friend McIlroy also backed McKibbin to impress Stateside in 2025.

“I think his game is going to be very suited to America, he hits it high and long,” McIlroy said.

“He’s been very, very consistent. For a guy that’s only 21 to show that level of consistency, that bodes well for the future. Very, very happy for him and excited he achieved one of his big goals this year.”

McKibbin has made two major championship appearances in his career, making the cut at The Open and the US Open in 2024. He has already secured his spot for The 2025 Open at Royal Portrush in July.

He is playing this week’s Team Cup, a Ryder Cup warm-up event in Abu Dhabi, before teeing it up in the Hero Dubai Desert Classic in a stellar field that will also include McIlroy and Rahm.