Jon Rahm issues excuse for LIV Golf teammate's underwhelming form
Jon Rahm has issued an excuse for Caleb Surratt's frustrating debut season with LIV Golf and offered his thoughts Tom McKibbin's move.
Jon Rahm has hailed the arrival of Tom McKibbin whilst touching on the struggles of his LIV Golf teammate.
News of McKibbin's surprise switch to the Saudi-backed breakaway tour first emerged in January before the Team Cup.
McKibbin didn't deny he was mulling an offer - thought to be worth $5m over two years - before the Ryder Cup warm-up.
But more than a month passed before the golfer made up his mind.
As McKibbin weighed up his options, several notable figures in the sport offered their two cents on whether the move was worth it.
He was implored by mentor and four-time major champion Rory McIlroy not to make the switch, given he will now be banned indefinitely by the PGA Tour, be subject to fines and suspensions on the DP World Tour and faces a tall order to make major championship starts over the next two years.
McKibbin also earned his first PGA Tour last November, which made his decision all the more surprising.
Padraig Harrington also questioned the move before it was made official on 29 January.
"Tom is used to traveling the world, which I think is a big key," Rahm told the official LIV Golf website.
"One of the reasons why maybe Caleb had not a good year last year compared to his standards was the fact that he had to travel so much, and he wasn't used to it."
Rahm was referencing Caleb Surratt, who was hand-picked by Rahm after the American turned professional to join LIV in 2023.
Surratt finished 41st in the standings.
"Tom is definitely used to it," said Rahm.
"[On] the DP World Tour, they definitely are able to travel a lot.
"So, having a young incredible talent with a bright future that's used to the travel is something very, very special."
Is Tom McKibbin's switch to LIV Golf a good move?
— GolfMagic (@GolfMagic) January 30, 2025
Rahm added: "On paper, we could be even stronger this year than we were last year.
"And I think coming into the team championship, we're definitely going to be stronger than we were last year."
McKibbin will make his LIV debut on 6 February in Riyadh.
His switch to LIV means all team rosters for the 2025 season are now complete.
See the full teams here.
Watched our latest YouTube video?
Ben joined the GolfMagic team in September 2021, initially as a content executive.
These days, he assumes the position of content manager.
