Tom McKibbin has been dubbed ‘the next Rory McIlroy’ by many in men’s professional golf, but it appears the Northern Irishman could be set to join the LIV Golf setup
Tom McKibbin looks set to become the latest player to make the move to LIV Golf, just weeks after securing his PGA Tour card in the company of Rory McIlroy.
McKibbin has announced himself as one of the top European players in recent years, and secured one of the 10 PGA Tour cards on offer to the top-performing DP World Tour players in 2024. It appears he is not going to take advantage of his achievement though, with Ten Golf reporting he is close to making the Saudi switch.
The Spanish outlet claims that McKibbin is a top target of the league’s 2025 individual champion Jon Rahm, who is looking to complete his Legion XIII roster after losing Kieran Vincent in 2024.
It comes after LIV sources confirmed to Mirror Sport last month that one of the 10 players who earned a PGA Tour spot at the DP World Tour Championship in November had approached the breakaway league over joining. McKibbin’s move would come as a shock to many, including McIlroy.
McKibbin has been dubbed ‘the next McIlroy’ during his rise in recent years, after the 22-year-old also developed his game at Holywood Golf Club, just like the four-time major champion. McIlroy has spoken highly of his fellow countryman amid his impressive rise, which included him winning the European Open in 2023.
McKibbin banked his PGA Tour place at the DP World Tour finale, where McIlroy secured his sixth Race to Dubai victory at the Earth Course. In the moments after being crowned champion of the tour once more, the 35-year-old spotted McKibbin in the aftermath, quickly asking him if he did enough to earn his card.
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After relaying the good news, the youngster received a large embrace from McIlroy in a special moment for the pair. Over the moon for his fellow Hollywood GC man, McIlroy said in November: “I was looking at the leaderboard and I saw Tom got in the top 10 and I thought okay, good.
“When I was walking off the last, I didn’t see his name and I see him before I signed my card and he was congratulating me, and I didn’t want to ask — I said, ‘Yay or nay?’ And he said, ‘Yes.’ I’m happy for him. That was a massive goal for him was to get one of those ten cards and go play in America. Super happy for him.”
McKibbin may not get the chance though, with the PGA Tour banning any player who makes the LIV switch. The Northern Irishman will be alongside one of the Legion XIII members on the DP World Tour this week, with McKibbin teaming up with Tyrrell Hatton for GB&Ireland at the Team Cup this week.
The pair are also set to compete at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic a week later, with Legion XIII skipper Rahm also in the field in preparation for the opening LIV event of the season in Riyadh on February 6.
