Tom McKibbin: ‘Next Rory McIlroy’ set to snub PGA Tour card and join Jon Rahm’s LIV Golf League team for 2025 season

Tom McKibbin, from the same golf club as Rory McIlroy, had previously earned dual membership on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour for the 2025 season; McKibbin refused to comment on the reports ahead of the Team Cup, live on Sky Sports

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.