Tom McKibbin addresses talk of shock LIV move

Tom McKibbin has addressed the strong reports that he is about to ditch the PGA Tour and sign a lucrative multi-year deal with Jon Rahm’s LIV team.

The Northern Irishman, 22, is set to make the shock switch to the Saudi-backed breakaway league just weeks after sealing dual membership on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour for the 2025 season.

As first reported by Ten Golf and later corroborated by BBC Sport NI, it is understood that McKibbin will give up a debut season on the American circuit to join Rahm’s Legion XII franchise.

He will complete Rahm’s team, which also includes the Spaniard’s Ryder Cup teammate Tyrrell Hatton and the American youngster Caleb Surratt.

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McKibbin refused to shut down the noise surrounding an imminent deal as he prepared for the Team Cup, this week’s Ryder Cup warm-up event in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

“I’m not going to make any comments this week out of respect for Justin (Rose, Team GB&I captain) and Luke (Donald) and this tournament,” he told Golf Digest. “It’s a team event so I’m just trying to give my best to the team to see how many points I can get.”

McKibbin hails from the same Holywood golf club as Rory McIlroy and shares a close relationship with the four-time major champion, who congratulated him at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship when he secured the final remaining PGA Tour card.

He won his maiden DP World Tour title at the Porsche European Open in 2023 and has been tipped as one of the brightest prospects in the European game.

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This week, he will have the chance to impress Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald in a team environment as part of Rose’s GB&I side taking on Francesco Molinari’s Continental Europeans in the Middle East.

Donald was asked by Gulf News if McKibbin’s likely move would impact his plans this week.

Ben Parsons joined bunkered as a Content Producer in 2023 and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.