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If Tom McKibbin goes to be the latest member of LIV Golf, the 22-year-old Northern Irishman isn’t saying.
Talking Wednesday to Golf Digest Center East on the DP World Tour Crew Cup, McKibbin would neither verify nor deny his rumored transfer to be the latest member of Jon Rahm’s Legion XIII group, changing the relegated Kieran Vincent.
“I’m not gonna make any feedback this week out of respect for Justin [Rose] and Luke [Donald] and this match,” McKibbin stated. “It’s a group occasion, so I’m simply making an attempt to provide my greatest to the group and see what number of factors I can get.”
McKibbin becoming a member of LIV, which begins its fourth season subsequent month, could be a shock transfer after the 22-year-old secured his PGA Tour card by simply 10.5 Race To Dubai Factors with a closing birdie on the DP World Tour Championship.
“Yeah it will be nice to be over there on the PGA Tour, a tour I’ve watched for a very long time, and it will likely be nice over there and play some golf,” McKibbin stated in Dubai on the time.
McKibbin, who’s at present ranked No. 110 on the earth, would forfeit the PGA Tour card he simply earned if he jumped to LIV.
That transfer, ought to it happen, would sting Rory McIlroy, who McKibbin has stated he considers his mentor. McKibbin is from the identical golf membership (Holywood Golf Membership) as McIlory. The world No. 3 made positive to hunt out McKibbin and congratulate him for incomes his PGA Tour card after the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, which McIlroy gained.
“I used to be trying on the leaderboard, and I noticed Tom acquired within the high 10, and I assumed okay, good, and once I was strolling off the final, I didn’t see his identify, and I see him earlier than I signed my card and he was congratulating me, and I didn’t need to ask – I stated, ‘Yay or nay?’ And he stated, ‘Sure,’” McIlroy stated.
“I’m comfortable for him. That was an enormous aim for him was to get a type of ten playing cards and go play in America. Tremendous comfortable for him…. I believe Europe has numerous good younger gamers and that clearly bodes properly for the longer term for European golf for Ryder Cups.”
McKibbin’s bounce to LIV remains to be only a rumor, however the 22-year-old’s unwillingness to tamp them out suggests there’s some fireplace to this smoke.
Whereas Rahm, Tyrell Hatton, and Caleb Surratt are nonetheless looking for (or at the least ready to announce) the ultimate member of their group, different LIV golf franchises have just lately introduced additions because the season attracts close to. Branden Grace has rejoined Stinger, Frederik Kjettrup signed with the Cleeks, and Ben Campbell joined the RangeGoats. Bubba Watson may even return because the captain of the RangeGoats.