Report: Jon Rahm identifies Rory McIlroy's mate as shock LIV Golf target

Jon Rahm is reportedly trying to recruit Rory McIlroy's good friend Tom McKibbin to his LIV Golf team for the forthcoming campaign. 

The 2023 Masters champion has a vacant spot on his Legion XII quartet and needs to replace the relegated Kieran Vincent. 

Rahm already has his European Ryder Cup teammate Tyrrell Hatton on his team and the highly-rated U.S. youngster Caleb Surratt. 

It is understood that Rahm has had conversations with McKibbin in recent weeks, according to Spanish news outlet Ten Golf. 

Who is Tom McKibbin?

McKibbin has shot up the rankings in recent years and is now 110th in the OWGR. 

The 22-year-old turned professional in 2021 at the age of 18. 

Career highlights so far have included winning on the developmental Challenge Tour as well as clinching his first DP World Tour title at the Porsche European Open in July 2023.

That triumph made him the youngest Tour winner from the island of Ireland since McIlroy.

He also lost in a playoff at the 2024 Italian Open to Germany's Marcel Siem. 

McKibbin's consistent performances in the 2023-2024 campaign saw him finish inside the top-10 in the Race to Dubai. 

It earned him his first PGA Tour card and he was congratulated by a teary-eyed McIlroy at the DP World Tour Championship.

Both McIlroy and McKibbin were born in Holywood, County Down.  

After McKibbin nabbed his first PGA Tour card, McIlroy told reporters: "I think his game is going to be very suited to America, he hits it high and long."

McIlroy added: "He's been very, very consistent. 

"For a guy that’s only 21 to show that level of consistency, that bodes well for the future. 

"Very, very happy for him and excited he achieved one of his big goals this year."

Who else has been linked with LIV Golf?

Rahm is good friends with PGA Tour member Tony Finau. 

The pair both live in Arizona and are members at the uber-exclusive Silverleaf Country Club in Scottsdale. 

Therefore, it has been no surprise that Finau has been consistently linked with a move to the breakway tour. 

Finau flatly denied the most recent reports, explaining that his fans would see him tee it up at the $20m season-opener in Hawaii. 

Rahm has also been linked with a move for Angel Hidalgo, who pipped the 2023 Masters champ to the Spanish Open title in Madrid a few months ago. 

Hidalgo, like Rahm, is a Callaway staff player. 

Rising DP World Tour talent Angel Ayora has also been the subject of intense media speculation. 

Ten Golf also reported that Ayora rejected a two-year deal with LIV. 

LIV Golf signings for 2025

Several teams in the league will remain unchanged for the 2025 season which kicks off next month in Riyadh. 

For example, Bryson DeChambeau's Crushers, Phil Mickelson's HyFlyers, Cameron Smith's Ripper, Joaquin Niemann's Torque, Brooks Koepka's Smash and the all-English Majesticks feature the same players. 

Dustin Johnson has nabbed Thomas Pieters from the RangeGoats. 

Bubba Watson is yet to confirm whether he will tee it up again or assume a non-playing role. 

It is unclear if Harold Varner III and Pat Perez will be retained in DJ's team. 

Kevin Na has confirmed Yubin Jang has joined his Iron Heads. 

Elsewhere, Martin Kaymer has convinced Danish pro Frederik Kjettrup to join the Cleeks. 

LIV Golf team rosters 2025:

Watched our latest YouTube video?