Golf
Northern Ireland’s ‘Next Rory McIlroy’ Tom McKibben Set For Shock Move To LIV Golf Ahead Of Debut PGA Tour Season
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After a stellar year on the DP World Tour where he earned his PGA Tour card for the season, Northern Ireland golf star Tom McKibbin is set to turn his back on the PGA Tour in favour of a move to LIV Golf.
Tom McKibbin Picks LIV Over PGA Tour
Just months after earning his Rory McIlroy‘ is set to ditch the PGA Tour in favour of a move to LIV Golf.
Northern Ireland’s Tom McKibbin only earned his PGA Tour card in November after two strong seasons on the DP World Tour, but looks set to turn his back on the PGA Tour before even competing in one of their tournaments.
Although unconfirmed, McKibbin looks set to forces with Spaniard Jon Rahm and his Legion XIII team at LIV Golf. Should McKibbin make this move, it would be a stunning turn of events just a matter of weeks after earning his PGA Tour card.
The 21-year-old finished inside the Top 10 of the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai, meaning he earned his PGA Tour card for rights to play on the American circuit for the 2025 season.
However, it looks like McKibbin could be about to turn his back on the PGA Tour before he’s even started. Not to mention his fellow countryman and friend Rory McIlroy, who McKibbin shared emotional celebrations with after the DP World Tour Championship.
After celebrations in November with McIlroy winning his sixth Race to Dubai on the same day McKibbin gained his PGA Tour card, the pair may not compete side by side after all if McKibbin does the Saudi Arabia-backed golf league.
Tom McKibbin tells Rory McIlroy that he'll be ing him on the PGA TOUR 🥹
The 21-year-old claimed the final dual hip spot.#DPWTC | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/c6cUFdBfvm
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) November 17, 2024
McKibbin Could Turn Back On Good Friend & Fellow Countryman Rory McIlroy
Just as it looked like Tom McKibbin would be competing week in, week out on the golf course with friend and fellow countryman Rory McIlroy on the PGA Tour, the latest twist in world golf could see the 21-year-old Graeme McDowell at LIV Golf instead.
McDowell, another Northern Irishman, defected to LIV Golf from the PGA Tour a few years ago, where he now competes with five-time major champion Brook Koepka and his Smash GC team.
If reports are to be believes, Tom McKibbin could be set to McDowell. However, it wouldn’t be with Koepka’s Smash GC, but instead with Jon Rahm and his Legion XIII team. This would mean teaming up with the likes of Tyrrell Hatton and Caleb Surratt.
Coincidentally, McKibbin and Hatton are competing alongside each other in this week’s Team Cup in Abu Dhabi, a team event sanctioned by the DP World Tour.
Should McKibbin make the move to LIV Golf, this could all but end his Ryder Cup dreams for September. Time will tell what happens next in the young golf career of Tom McKibbin, but it looks like he could be turning his back on the PGA Tour already.
If McKibbin follows through with his proposed move, this could mean replacing Kieran Vincent on team Legion XIII alongside Jon Rahm. It remains to be seen whether this is the case, with the new LIV Golf season beginning in early February in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
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