Jon Rahm secured the Callaway staff player he was keen on, after Tom McKibbin made the move to LIV Golf's Legion XIII set-up. The 30-year-old team captain suffered a significant setback when his team lost Kieran Vincent to relegation in 2024, with the Zimbabwean finishing 54th in the league's standings. Back in October, discussing a potential replacement for Vincent, Rahm expressed his desire to bring on board a Callaway staff player, given his future aspirations to collaborate with the brand.

And Rahm's wish came true, as McKibbin often dubbed 'the next Rory McIlroy' confirmed his switch to LIV. The 22-year-old Northern Irishman earned his PGA Tour card thanks to his stellar performances on the DP World Tour in 2024. However, the young talent opted not to join the prestigious banner. Ten Golf reported in January that he was nearing a move to the lucrative LIV league, with the Spanish publication also highlighting that McKibbin was high on Rahm's list of targets following Vincent's exit from Legion XIII.

This follows reports from LIV sources to Mirror Sport in December that one of the 10 players who received their PGA Tour card at the DP World Tour Championship in November had been approached by the Saudi-backed setup. The addition of McKibbin, who has been part of Team Callaway for over a year, is undoubtedly a welcome development for Rahm, reports the Mirror US. In a chat in January 2024, McKibbin said of his partnership with Callaway: "I've been testing new Callaway and Odyssey products with the Tour team over the winter and I can't wait to put my new equipment into competitive play. I've been a long-time fan of Callaway equipment and I'm confident I can take a big step forwards in my career using their clubs and golf ball.".

Sharpening his game at the same Holywood Golf Club as McIlroy, McKibbin's skills have not gone unnoticed, earning him considerable plaudits from his fellow countryman for his impressive display on the links. Recounting the moment McKibbin secured his PGA card in November, McIlroy said: "I was looking at the leader board and I saw Tom got in the top 10 and I thought okay, good.". McIlroy continued: "When I was walking off the last, I didn't see his name and I see him before I signed my card and he was congratulating me, and I didn't want to ask I said, 'yay or nay? ' And he said, 'yes.' I'm happy for him. That was a massive goal for him was to get one of those 10 cards and go play in America. Super happy for him.".

Despite expectations, McKibbin has diverged from the PGA Tour path, having recently decided to join the high-money ranks of LIV, alongside Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton, and Caleb Surrat for the 2025 season. His switch to the LIV circuit was confirmed on Wednesday (January 29), setting the stage for his debut at LIV's first tournament of the year in Riyadh come Thursday (February 6). Last month, McIlroy expressed his disappointment as McKibbin was about to sign with LIV, stating that if he were in McKibbin's position, he would choose to remain with the PGA Tour. According to the BBC, McIlroy said: "I think he's got a ton of potential. I said to him, 'if I were in your shoes, I would make a different choice than the one you're thinking of making'.

"Working so hard to get your tour card in the States, something that he did, to achieve that goal last year was a big achievement. I think what he potentially is sacrificing and giving up with access to majors, potential Ryder Cup spot, if I were in his position and I had his potential, which I think I have been before, I wouldn't make that decision.". DAZN subscribers will be able to watch three matches per week from the ever growing Saudi Pro League, featuring some the biggest names in world football. DAZN will also be showing every minute of Al-Nassr's games which will bring fans front row seats to Cristiano Ronaldo and former Liverpool legend, Sadio Mané.