Tom McKibbin could be the first purchase of Liv Golf 2025. The Northern Irishman, who grew up at the Holywood Golf Club, the same as Rory McIlroy, is ready to join the Legion XIII team of Spaniard Jon Rahm, former number 1 in the world and among the highest paid athletes.
Super League, results
After having earned the 'card' to also play on the PGA Tour, the 22-year-old McKibbin is preparing to choose the Arab Super League. The rumors regarding his transfer to the separatist green league, financed by the Pif, come a few days before the start of the "Team Cup", the challenge (Ryder model) scheduled for January 10 to 12 in Abu Dhabi. Where the Great Britain & Ireland team entrusted to Justin Rose, with McKibbin among the protagonists, will face the continental Europe team led by Francesco Molinari (another Italian, Matteo Manassero, will also be on the field).
LIV Golf is a professional men's golf circuit created in 2021, the first edition of which was held in 2022.
The creation of this international circuit aims to restore the image of Saudi Arabia led by Mohammed bin Salman through sport called "sportswashing" and "soft power". Funded by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF) whose director is Yasir Al-Rumayyan with the former Australian golfer Greg Norman as general director of the circuit, this closed circuit which selects its players based on annual contracts presents itself as a dissident league to the PGA Tour and other circuits by poaching many players present in the world's top 100.
The season is played over fourteen events played over three days and not four days in a 54-hole format without a cut, with a team ranking. Among the players who have joined this closed league are many Grand Slam tournament winners such as Dustin Johnson, Charl Schwartzel, Henrik Stenson, Cameron Smith, Brooks Koepka, Patrick Reed, Martin Kaymer, Bryson DeChambeau, Sergio Garca, Phil Mickelson, Bubba Watson, Louis Oosthuizen and Jon Rahm. This brings a confrontation between the PGA Tour loyalists such as Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy and the dissident players.
