Tom McKibbin has been handed his first PGA Tour card at the end of 2024, but it appears Rory McIlroy’s prodigy is already set to give up that spot to join LIV Golf
Tom McKibbin has refused to confirm or deny rumours of him joining LIV Golf’s Jon Rahm Legion XIII ahead of the 2025 DP World Tour season.
On Tuesday, reports from Ten Golf and BBC Sport claimed McKibbin was close to replacing Kieran Vincent as Rahm’s fourth-man squad for 2025. The 22-year-old, who has already been dubbed “the next Rory McIlroy” due to the pair’s links to Holywood Golf Club, is competing in the Team Cup this week.
McKibbin is part of the Great Britain and Ireland team that will take on continental Europe in the Ryder Cup warm-up tournament in Abu Dhabi under the watchful eye of Team Europe captain Luke Donald.
Ahead of the event, the young Northern Irishman was asked by Golf Digest whether he would be a LIV golfer at the season opener in Riyadh next month, but he kept his cards close to his chest. “I’m not making any comments this week,”
McKibbin said. \ “Out of respect for Justin [Rose, G.B. and the captain of Ireland] and Luke [Donald] and this tournament.
\ “This is a team event, so I’m just trying to give the best for my team and see how many points I can get. Hatton. Hutton and McKibbin have been in the same dressing room under the watchful eye of Captain Rose this week, but if the Northern Irishman officially completes his move to LIV then something could start to happen in 2025. McKibbin’s decision will come as a shock to many once the 2024 campaign is over.
The 22-year-old’s impressive showing at the DP World Tour Championship in November placed him among the top 10 players on the DP World Tour who earned him a full PGA Tour card for 2025. But with the PGA Tour still suspending players who move to LIV, it appears he plans to retire his card.
McIlroy, who has previously been one of the LIV’s most vocal critics, was one of the first to congratulate McKibbin on his Dubai achievement two months ago, just minutes after he himself won the event and was awarded the DP World Tour Order of Merit for the sixth time in his career.
The pair shared a warm embrace on the 18th hole of the Earth Course at Jumeriah Golf Estates in a special moment for the youngster. “When I walked out at the end, I didn’t see his name, but I saw it before I signed the card and (McKibbin) congratulated me,” McIlroy said at the time.
“I didn’t want to hear it, so I said, ‘Yes or no?’ And he said, ‘Yes, I’m happy for you.’ It was a big goal for him to get one of those 10 cards and play in the United States. I’m very happy for him. »
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