Tom McKibbin, who recently secured his PGA Tour card alongside Rory McIlroy, is poised to join LIV Golf (Image: Getty Images)
Tom McKibbin, who recently secured his PGA Tour card alongside Rory McIlroy, is poised to join LIV Golf. The young golfer has made a name for himself as one of Europe’s top players and was among the 10 DP World Tour players to secure a PGA Tour card in 2024.
However, according to Ten Golf, he seems set to forego this achievement and make the move to Saudi Arabia. The Spanish publication suggests that McKibbin is being targeted by Jon Rahm, the league’s 2025 individual champion, who is keen to fill his Legion XIII roster after losing Kieran Vincent in 2024.
This news follows last month’s confirmation from LIV sources to Mirror Sport 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 about joining. McKibbin’s potential move could come as a surprise to many, including McIlroy.
Often referred to as ‘the next McIlroy’, McKibbin has been making waves in recent years, not least when he won the European Open in 2023. Like McIlroy, he honed his skills at Holywood Golf Club and has received high praise from the four-time major champion.
McKibbin secured his PGA Tour spot at the DP World Tour finale, where McIlroy claimed his sixth Race to Dubai title at the Earth Course. In the moments following his tour championship win, the 35 year old approached McKibbin to inquire if he had done enough to secure his card.
Upon sharing the good news, McKibbin received a warm embrace from McIlroy, marking a special moment for the pair. Delighted for his fellow GC member, 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.”
However, McKibbin’s PGA Tour aspirations may be put on hold due to the tour’s ban on players who join LIV.
This week, McKibbin will partner with Tyrrell Hatton to represent GB and Ireland at the Team Cup. The duo are also scheduled to compete at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic a week later, with Legion XIII captain Rahm also in the field in preparation for the opening LIV event of the season in Riyadh on February 6.