The PGA Tour is in jeopardy of losing one of its top up-and-coming stars to LIV Golf.
Over the past few years, several high profile names and former major champions have moved overseas to play in the Saudi-backed golf league. Now, 22-year-old Tom McKibbin, a close friend of Rory McIlroy, could be close to joining Jon Rahm’s Legion XIII team on the LIV Golf circuit.
‘It Hasn’t Been Confirmed… But It Hasn’t Been Denied Either’
When speaking to Golf Digest MiddleEast at the DP World Tour Team Cup, McKibbin would neither confirm or deny the rumors regarding his intentions for the upcoming season. Instead, the Irishman wanted to remain focused on the task at hand and performing his best in the team event.
“I’m not gonna make any comments this week out of respect for Justin [Rose] and Luke [Donald] and this tournament,” McKibbin said. “It’s a team event, so I’m just trying to give my best to the team and see how many points I can get.”
Justin Rose, McKibbin’s teammate at the event, was a little more skeptical about the young star’s future.
“It hasn’t been confirmed to me, but it hasn’t been denied either,” Rose told BBC Sport’s Iain Carter.
McKibbin’s Most Likely Landing Spot Is On Rahm’s Squad
LIV Golf will begin its fourth season in Saudi Arabia in February but all of the teams are not yet finalized. Recent PGA Tour defector Jon Rahm is still looking for a spot to fill on his squad after Kieran Vincent was relegated. If McKibbin joins LIV Golf, Legion XIII would be his most likely landing spot. In addition to Rahm, the team also features Tyrell Hatton and Caleb Surratt.
McKibbin isn’t the only candidate to replace Vincent on the roster though. Rahm has reportedly been keeping a close eye on DP World Tour prospect Angel Ayora and golfer Angel Hidalgo.
If McKibbin indeed takes his talents to the LIV Golf league, the move would come as a surprise after he narrowly secured his PGA Tour card for 2025.
“Yeah it would be great to be over there on the PGA Tour, a tour I’ve watched for a long time, and it will be great over there and play some golf,” McKibbin said in Dubai at the time.
