Northern Ireland’s Tom McKibbin has made a shock switch to join Jon Rahm’s LIV Golf League team Legion XIII, giving up the chance to play on the PGA Tour this season.
Previously dubbed the ‘next Rory McIlroy’ after hailing from the same Holywood Golf Club as the four-time major champion, McKibbin had secured dual membership on the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour for the 2025 season.
But the move to LIV now sees McKibbin suspended from featuring on the PGA Tour, although he initially retains his DP World Tour membership and remains eligible to try and qualify for Europe’s Ryder Cup side later this autumn.
The 22-year-old claimed his maiden DP World Tour title – in his rookie season – at the Porsche European Open in June 2023 and enjoyed a strong finish to last season, where he snapped up the last of the 10 PGA Tour cards on offer via the Race to Dubai rankings.
McKibbin was congratulated by McIlroy after the season-ending DP World Tour Championship and said it was “exciting” to have secured his PGA Tour playing privileges, despite multiple reports already linking him with a move to Rahm’s LIV outfit.
Two-time major winner Rahm confirmed the expected move with a brief post on social media.
“Tom McKibbin, welcome to the team, let’s go,” Rahm said with a clenched-fist celebration as he confirmed McKibbin will be joining him, Tyrrell Hatton and American Caleb Surratt for Legion XIII.
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Highlights from day four of the 2024 Italian Open, where Marcel Siem narrowly pipped McKibbin in a play-off
Who else has joined the LIV Golf League for 2025?
Korean Tour order of merit winner Yubin Jang has signed with Kevin Na’s Iron Heads GC for the new season, while Denmark’s Frederik Kjettrup – a three-time winner on the PGA Tour Americas in 2024 – joining the Cleeks GC team captained by Martin Kaymer.
Chieh-Po Lee won the 36-hole LIV Golf Promotions event to earn his promotion to the LIV Golf League for 2025, although his team has yet to be confirmed, with several more line-ups still to be finalised ahead of the season getting under way on February 6.
Nine countries, four continents and six new venues feature in a 14-event schedule for the 2025 season, where Rahm is the reigning individual champion and Cameron Smith’s Ripper GC side the defending team champions.
Where and when do LIV Golf League events take place in 2025?
February 6-8 – LIV Golf Riyadh – Riyadh Golf Club
February 14-16 – LIV Golf Adelaide – The Grange Golf Club
March 7-9 – LIV Golf Hong Kong – Hong Kong Golf Club
March 14-16 – LIV Golf Singapore – Sentosa Golf Club
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Billy Horschel has urged the PGA Tour to let LIV golfers back into the The Players Championship so it can still be seen as one of the world’s best tournaments
April 4-6 – LIV Golf Miami – Blue Monster at Trump National Doral
April 25-27 – LIV Golf Mexico City – Club de Golf Chapultepec
May 2-4 – LIV Golf Korea – Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea
June 6-8 – LIV Golf Washington DC – Robert Trent Jones Golf Club
June 27-29 – LIV Golf Dallas – Maridoe Golf Club
July 11-13 – LIV Golf Andalucia – Real Club Valderrama
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July 25-27 – LIV Golf UK – JCB Golf and Country Club
August 8-10 – LIV Golf Chicago – Bolingbrook Golf Club
August 15-17 – LIV Golf Indianapolis – The Club at Chatham Hills
August 22-24 – Team Championship – LIV Golf Michigan – The Cardinal at Saint John’s Resort
Watch the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, majors and the best of women’s golf live throughout 2025 on Sky Sports Golf. Stream Sky Sports Golf and more with NOW.
