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Justin Rose says his Great Britain and Ireland team are aware of the strong reports linking Tom McKibbin with an imminent move to LIV Golf.

McKibbin, who is playing for Rose’s GB&I side in this week’s Team Cup, a Ryder Cup warm-up event in Abu Dhabi, is set to make the surprise move to LIV just weeks after earning his first PGA Tour card.

The Northern Irishman, who learned the game at the same Holywood Golf Club as Rory McIlroy, looks set to join Jon Rahm’s Legion XII team on the Saudi-backed breakaway league.

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When quizzed this week by Golf Digest, McKibbin refused to deny the rumours. “I’m not going to make any comments this week out of respect for Justin,” he replied.

Rose, meanwhile, says such fervent speculation will not change the dynamic in the team room as his ten-man team take on Francesco Molinari’s Continental Europeans in the Middle East.

“I think we’re all aware of that,” the Englishman told BBC Sport’s Iain Carter. “It hasn’t been confirmed to me, but it hasn’t been denied either.

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“I think all of that is down the road in the future and we’re used to that narrative in golf now the last few years, it’s been unsettled for a while. We’re all quite accustomed to it.

“My team is just enjoying being here in the Middle East – what a wonderful place to start the season – and mucking in and wanting to get their own individual seasons off to a fantastic start.”

European skipper Luke Donald was also asked about the future McKibbin, who has long been viewed as a potential Ryder Cup player .

“Tom has to make the decisions that he feels are best for him,” Donald told Gulf News. “I talked to Tom and he’s very much looking forward to this week, looking forward to playing for Justin, looking forward to try and impress me and contribute to the team.”