Tom McKibbin opted to join Tyrrell Hatton and Jon Rahm at Legion XIII for the 2025 LIV Golf season, and Hatton could not speak highly enough of his new teammate
Tyrrell Hatton has hyped up his new LIV Golf teammate Tom McKibbin, after the Northern Irishman opted to join his new teammate at Legion XIII this season.
McKibbin completed a shock move to the LIV setup earlier this month, completing a deal worth a reported £4 million. In doing so, the 22-year-old strengthened the Legion XIII roster, joining two of the league’s biggest names in Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton, as well as rising star Caleb Surratt.
And the Northern Irishman has enjoyed a strong start to life on the LIV circuit, carding a seven-under-par 65 in the opening round in Riyadh, followed by a three-under 69 a day later.
On the back of his hot start, Hatton spoke highly of his new teammate, in what will prove a warning to the rest of the LIV roster with Legion XIII only getting stronger. “Yeah, he’s a fantastic player, and to be honest, he doesn’t really look like he has any weaknesses,” said Hatton.
“He drives the ball great, hits it a long way, looks very good with the wedges and rolls it nicely.When you’re consistent across all aspects of the game, you’re going to be there or thereabouts. Yeah, he’s a fantastic player. Like I said earlier, I think we all expect him to do pretty well out here.
“It’ll take a little bit of time for him to get used to it with the warm-up situation on the range and finding a rhythm and being ready to go straightaway when you get on the golf course, but so far he’s dealt with that really well.” There was plenty to get used to for McKibbin, including a shotgun start, team scoring, and night golf, with the opening event taking place under the lights in Riyadh.
For all the latest on news, politics, sports, and showbiz from the USA, go to The Mirror US.
The new surroundings however is something he is enjoying so far. “Yeah, it was obviously very different,” he said of his first round earlier this week. “The warm-up. I’ve never experienced before. It was definitely a different experience.
“I wouldn’t really say I was too nervous. I was probablymore anxious and not sure about how it was going to go, especially with playing at night, something that none of us have never really experienced.
“But I think sort of being able to get that out of the way today and know what’s coming for the next couple of days is good. As I said, it was something very different but very pleased that it didn’t affect me too much.” The Northern Irishman also welcomed LIV’s decision to play music around the course during play.
“I really liked the music,” he claimed. “I think the music was super cool, and then that halftime show standing on the 4th tee watching that was pretty awesome. I think all of us in the group really, really enjoyed that.”
