'Next McIlroy' Set To Snub PGA Tour And Join Rahm's LIV Golf Team - Sportsnewsfoot

Northern Ireland’s Tom McKibbin is set to snub 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 hailing from the same Holywood Golf Club as the four-time major champion, had secured dual membership on the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour for the 2025 season.

The 22-year-old registered 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 claimed 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, although multiple reports are linking him with a move to Rahm’s Legion XIII side.

Sky Sports has reached out to McKibbin’s management for comment, with Spanish outlet Ten Golf reporting that he is expected to replace the relegated Kieran Vincent in Rahm’s roster that already includes Ryder Cup star Tyrrell Hatton and American star Caleb Surratt.

McKibbin is playing alongside Hatton this week on the DP World Tour at the Team Cup, live on Sky Sports from Friday, where they both represent Great Britain and Ireland against Continental Europe in a Ryder Cup-style contest.

When asked about the prospect of joining LIV Golf, McKibbin refused to play down the rumours and told Golf Digest: “I’m not going to make 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”

A switch to the LIV Golf League would currently see McKibbin suspended from featuring on the PGA Tour, although he would initially retain his DP World Tour membership and remain eligible to try and qualify for Europe’s Ryder Cup side later this autumn.

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 brand-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

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

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.