Tom McKibbin: ‘Next Rory McIlroy’ ready to ditch PGA Tour card to join Jon Rahm’s LIV Golf League team for 2025 season | Golf news
Northern Ireland’s Tom McKibbin is set to pass up the chance to play on the PGA Tour this season and make a shock switch to join Jon Rahm’s LIV Golf League team.
McKibbin, previously dubbed ‘the next Rory McIlroy’ after coming from the same Holywood Golf Club as the four-time major champion, has secured dual membership on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour for the 2025 season.
The 22-year-old registered his first DP World Tour title – in his debut season – at the Porsche European Open in June 2023 and enjoyed a strong finish last season, where he won the last of the 10 PGA Tour cards on offer via the Race to Dubai.
McKibbin was congratulated by McIlroy after the DP World Tour Championship season ended and said it was “exciting” to secure his playing privileges on the PGA Tour, despite multiple reports linking him with a move to Rahm’s Legion XIII side.
Sky Sports has reached out to McKibbin’s management for comment, with the Spanish edition Ten golfs reporting he is expected to replace relegated Kieran Vincent on Rahm’s roster which already includes Ryder Cup star Tyrrell Hatton and US star Caleb Surratt.
McKibbin is playing alongside Hatton this week on the DP World Tour in the Team Cup, live on Sky Sports from Fridaywhere they both represent Great Britain and Ireland against continental Europe in a Ryder Cup style competition.
When asked about the prospect of him joining LIV Golf, McKibbin refused to play down the rumours, saying Golf Digest: “I won’t be making any comments this week out of respect for Justin [Rose] and Luke [Donald] and this tournament.
“It’s a team event so I’m just trying to give my best to the team and see how many points I can get”
The move to the LIV Golf League would currently see McKibbin suspended from PGA Tour play, although he would initially retain his DP World Tour membership and be eligible to try to qualify for the European Ryder Cup later this fall.
Who else has joined the LIV Golf League for 2025?
Korean Tour 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 – has joined the Cleeks GC team with captain Martin Kaymer.
Chieh-Po Lee won the LIV Golf Promotions 36-hole event to earn his promotion to the LIV Golf League for 2025, although his team is yet to be confirmed and several squads are yet to be finalized before the waning season. on the 6th of February.
Nine countries, four continents and six brand new venues feature in the 14-event schedule for the 2025 season, with Rahm the reigning individual champion and Cameron Smith’s Ripper GC on the side of the defending team champions.
Where and when are the LIV Golf League events taking place in 2025?
6.-8. February – LIV Golf Riyadh – Riyadh Golf Club
14.-16. February – LIV Golf Adelaide – Grange Golf Club
7.-9. March – LIV Golf Hong Kong – Hong Kong Golf Club
14.-16. March – LIV Golf Singapore – Sentosa Golf Club
4.-6. April – LIV Golf Miami – The Blue Monster at Trump National Doral
25.-27. April – LIV Golf Mexico City – Chapultepec Golf Club
2.-4. May – LIV Golf Korea – Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea
6.-8. June – LIV Golf Washington DC – Robert Trent Jones Golf Club
27.-29. June – LIV Golf Dallas – Maridoe Golf Club
11.-13. July – LIV Golf Andalucia – Real Club Valderrama
25.-27. July – LIV Golf UK – JCB Golf and Country Club
8.-10. August – LIV Golf Chicago – Bolingbrook Golf Club
15.-17. August – LIV Golf Indianapolis – The Club at Chatham Hills
22.-24. August – Team Championship – LIV Golf Michigan – Cardinal in the resort of Saint John’s
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 NOW.
