Tom McKibbin has joined the LIV Golf League, where he will play on Jon Rahm's Legion XIII team.
McKibbin, who won the 2023 Porsche European Open, had earned his 2025 PGA Tour card via the DP World Tour but will now be suspended from the US-based circuit as he opts for the Saudi-backed team tour instead.
The Northern Irishman will play alongside Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton and Caleb Surratt on one of the strongest sides in the league, which won four tournaments in 2024 and finished 2nd in the points list.
McKibbin replaces the relegated Kieran Vincent and is another of LIV's young signings for 2025, with fellow 22-year-olds Yubin Jang and Luis Masaveu as well as 25-year-old Frederik Kjettrup joining the league.
McKibbin grew up playing at Holywood Golf Club in Belfast, the same club as Rory McIlroy. His idol and mentor recently discussed the youngster's potential move and revealed that the pair had spoken over the phone, with McIlroy saying he told him that he shouldn't join LIV Golf.
"I really like Tom as a person, as a player," McIlroy said ahead of the Dubai Desert Classic.
"I think he's got a ton of potential. Look, I said to him, if I were in your shoes, I would make a different choice than the one you're thinking of making. I think, you know, working so hard to get your tour card in the States ... to achieve that goal last year was a big achievement.
"I think what he potentially is sacrificing and giving up, with access to majors, potential Ryder Cup spot, depending on, you know, how he would play ... if I were in his position and I had his potential, which I think I have been before, I wouldn't make that decision."
The new signing means that all 13 LIV Golf teams are now complete, with Chieh-po Lee and Anthony Kim likely acting as wildcards for the upcoming season to keep the competitors at 54 in each event.
McKibbin makes his LIV Golf debut next week in Jeddah in the first tournament of the 2025 LIV Golf League season.
-
PGA Tour Pro Wraps Up Masters Spot In Incredibly Tight AffairMichael Kim edged out Ben Griffin to qualify for The Masters via his world ranking following a tense battle between the pair in the Houston Open
-
Gary Woodland Produces Best PGA Tour Finish Since Return From Brain SurgeryThe 2019 US Open champion had brain surgery to remove a benign tumor in 2023, with a T2 at the Texas Children's Houston Open his best finish since returning at the start of last year
-
LIV Golf Unveils Its Own Version Of Creator Classic Featuring Grant Horvat, Rick Shiels, Fat Perez And Bryan BrosTaking place at LIV Golf Miami, six players from the circuit will play alongside six of the game's biggest content creators in a nine-hole scramble event
-
Carlos Ortiz 'Overjoyed' To Earn Open Championship Spot After Pulling Away From LIV Rivals During International Series Macau VictoryThe Mexican finished with a blistering six-under 64 to earn his second Asian Tour prize and clinch a spot at the 153rd Open Championship
-
LIV Golf Leaderboard At International Series Macau - Open Spots Up For Grabs As Multiple LIV Pros In Contention Going Into Final DayAfter a busy Moving Day at Macau Golf and Country Club, a number of LIV golfers are in contention for the victory and a potential spot at The Open Championship
-
'If We Want To Figure Out Why The Game Of Golf Is Not Back Together, Go Ask Those Guys' - Scottie Scheffler Insists LIV Golfers To Blame For Golf's Big DivideScottie Scheffler reiterated his stance that LIV golfers were to blame for the continued split in men's pro golf, while insisting the PGA Tour still had a better standard
-
Paul McGinley Proposes ‘One Of The Things That I Think LIV Have Got Right’ To Be Applied To PGA TourThe Golf Channel analyst thinks a key change implemented by LIV Golf could make all the difference to the PGA Tour
-
Joaquin Niemann Wins LIV Golf Singapore TitleThe Chilean won his second LIV Golf event of the season thanks to a bogey-free 65 on Sunday in Singapore
-
Jon Rahm Equals Bryson DeChambeau's LIV Golf Record After Strong Start In SingaporeThe Legion XIII captain matched Bryson DeChambeau's record for consecutive scores under-par in the second round of LIV Golf Singapore
-
‘I Think It’s Dead, I Think The Other Side Is Gone’ - Lee Trevino Gives Take On PGA Tour-LIV Golf Divide And Calls For Players And Caddies To Speed UpLee Trevino was full of praise for the PGA Tour and its immediate future, as he believes that a deal with the Saudi PIF may not come at all
