There's been a hugely surprising development in the world of Irish golf as it appears the promising Co. Down golfer Tom McKibbin is set to join the LIV Tour to join Jon Rahm's team.
The 22-year-old had just earned his PGA Tour card at the end of last year but is set to become the second Irish golfer to join the LIV Tour, following Graeme McDowell's move when LIV was launched.
The BBC Northern Ireland have reported that McKibbin will join the Legion XIII team alongside Rahm, the fiery Tyrell Hatton and US golfer Caleb Surratt.
Ten Golf in Spain have also reported the news.
McKibbin would take the place of Zimbabwe golfer Kieran Vincent, who was relegated from LIV at the end of last year and released from Rahm's team.
The Co. Down golfer is yet to comment on the reported move, but he is set to compete in the Team Cup in Dubai this weekend, so we may learn more shortly.
McKibbin might have been a dark horse for Ryder Cup contention if he was competing weekly on the PGA Tour, but this move would effectively end any hopes of that.
14 September 2024; Tom McKibbin of Northern Ireland during day three of the Amgen Irish Open Golf Championship 2024 at the Royal County Down Golf Club in Newcastle, Down. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
McKibbin finished eighteenth in the Race To Dubai rankings last season and earned the tenth and final PGA Tour Card with eight of the eighteen ahead of him already exempt on the US Tour.
Speaking after he was greeted by Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy in Dubai, McKibbin expressed his excitement about getting to play stateside.
It would be pretty amazing to get over there and play some golf ... I seem to play [well] on the harder courses and I think that suits my game a little more. It’ll be exciting to get over there and see how it goes.
McKibbin and his local golf club member McIlroy also shared a warm embrace after their respective wins in Dubai, with the pair sharing a close relationship and McIlroy keenly following McKibbin's progress over the last number of years.
While the Holywood-based golfer is set to compete in this week's Team Cup and next week's Hero Dubai Desert Classic, where McIlroy is the defending champion McKibbin now looks likely not to be playing those difficult courses in the US come next season.
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