TOM McKIBBIN has refused to rule out a move to LIV Golf after being linked with a shock switch to the Saudi breakaway.
The 22-year-old ace has been strongly linked with a move to join the Legion XIII roster on the Saudi Arabia PIF-backed LIV Golf.
It is believed that team skipper, and two-time major winner Jon Rahm wants McKibbin on his roster.
However, asked about the speculation, the Belfast man remained coy as to whether a move to LIV was on the cards.
Speaking to Golf Digest Middle East ahead of the Team Cup, he said: “I’m not going to make any comments this week out of respect for Justin [Rose] and Luke [Donald] and this tournament.
“It’s a team event so I’m just trying to do my best for the team and see how many points I can get.”
McKibbin is set for action this week in the Team Cup match in Abu Dhabi.
The Great Britain and Ireland team are pitted against a continental Europe side in the UAE.
He will be teaming up with Justin Rose, Laurie Canter, Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton, Aaron Rai, Jordan Smith, Matt Wallace, Paul Waring, and Matthew Jordan.
They will go up against a Europe side featuring Francesco Molinari, Nicolai Højgaard, Rasmus Højgaard, Matteo Manassero, Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, Niklas Nørgaard, Thorbjørn Olesen, Matthieu Pavon, Antoine Rozner, and Romain Langasque.
It comes after a stellar 2024 campaign.
The Northern Irish golfer won a PGA Tour card last season after claiming a card on offer at the DP World Tour Championship in November.
The starlet won one of the ten dual cards in Europe’s flagship tour finale with a gutsy closing birdie.
His level par 72 was just enough to edge out England’s Jordan Smith by a razor-tight 10.5 Race to Dubai points.
He made the 18th green in two, and two-putted for birdie before expressing his excitement at the career milestone.
McKibbin has a close association with four-time Major champion Rory McIlroy as they both hail from Holywood GC in County Down.
McIlroy was once one of LIV Golf‘s most vocal critics before he performed an astonishing u-turn last year.
Rahm’s team already includes England’s Tyrrell Hatton, Caleb Surrat and Kieran Vincent.
But there’s a vacancy to be filled before next month’s deadline closes before the start of the LIV schedule after Kieran Vincent’s relegation from the league in the individual standings.
He would follow compatriot Graeme McDowell to the LIV Tour ahead of the fourth season start in Riyadh, February 6.
LOVE Island: All Stars is set for a few changes as it nears its second-ever series – and we have some exciting information for fans of the show.
The iconic All Stars series will return to ITV2 on Monday, January 13.
With a star-studded cast of ex-Islanders who are all looking for love and hoping their second stint will be a lucky one, we can now reveal that there are some big twists coming.
Yes, that’s right.
There is something “really fun” happening in week two, a producer has spilled to us.
Chatting with The Sun ahead of the new series airing on Monday, executive producer of the show Mike Spencer lifted the lid on what’s being axed, and what’s going to be “lit”.
“Remember that little guy, that treehouse?” he asked, “It didn’t work. We didn’t do it last year either,” Mike said, confirming that the treehouse would not be making a comeback this year.
He then spoke about something else they don’t usually do for All Stars – Casa Amor.
“We don’t tend to do Casa Amor for this one,” he said.
Casa Amor is an alternate villa used in Love Island that was first introduced in season three and has been used in the show ever since – bar the spin-off series.
“We didn’t last year, because it’s only five weeks,” he added, before revealing something incredibly exciting.
“But we’ve got something really fun,” he teased, “probably week two.”
Worried he had spilled too much tea, Mike added: “I’ve already said too much,” before gushing, “but week two is going to be lit.”
This comes as a whole host of former Islanders prepare to head into the South African villa on Monday night.
Curtis Pritchard from series five will be back for the All Stars series, as well as season three’s Gabby Allen, series four’s Kaz Crossley, and Nas Majeed from series six.
ITV has also confirmed Scott Thomas from series two, Olivia Hawkins from series nine, Catherine Agbaje from series 10, and Ronnie Vint from series 11, all as returning to the show.
Love Island All Stars is returning to TV for season 2.
Here we take you through the line-up of Islanders’ who are set to go into the villa so far.
Bombshell rumours
Each series brings with it a string of hot single bombshells making their epic entrance into the villa.
Here’s who is rumoured to be going into the villa so far:
Gemma Owen’s ex Luca Bish from series eight will also be back, as well as series five alumni Elma Pazar and India Reynolds, and series three’s Marcel Somerville.
And earlier this week we reported the exciting news that Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu has signed up for the brand new upcoming series of Love Island: All Stars.
Insiders told The Sun that fiery Ekin-Su, 30, is now in hiding in South Africa ahead of the show’s launch on Monday.
A source said: “ITV bosses have long wanted Ekin back in Love Island and she’s finally agreed.
“After she split with Davide last January bosses immediately put her on their wish list.
“It took a lot of back and forth to persuade her to go back into the villa, especially after Ekin had such a tough time on Celebrity Big Brother.
“But she wants to use this new stint on Love Island All Stars to redeem herself and remind the public why they love her.
“ITV bosses haven’t decided if she’ll be a day one star, or a bombshell, but whatever happens she is telly gold and is going to be an incredible addition to the line up.”
A TOTTENHAM mascot urged Virgil van Dijk to quit Liverpool for north London while admitting “we haven’t got any good defenders!”
The hilarious moment occurred before the Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg clash between Spurs and Liverpool on Wednesday.
A late goal from Lucas Bergvall gave Tottenham the win, with the match overshadowed by a worrying injury to Rodrigo Bentancur.
But before kick-off, there was a light-hearted moment as Spurs’ kid mascots prepared to make their way onto the field.
The children were all excited to see some of football’s biggest names walk by.
And the biggest cheer appeared to be reserved for Liverpool defender Van Dijk.
The Dutchman is one of the best in the business, having won a Premier League and Champions League during his time at Anfield.
But one Tottenham mascot reckons the time is right for Van Dijk to quit Liverpool and sign for Ange Postecoglou’s side.
Indeed, the whipper-snapper didn’t hesitate to issue the offer out loud as Van Dijk high-fived him and other mascots.
And he even admitted Tottenham “haven’t got any good defenders” in amusing scenes.
FOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS
Fans were left tickled by the brilliant incident on social media.
One said: “You’ve got to admire children’s honesty.”
Another declared: “Made my day.”
One noted: “Class this.”
Another added: “Looks like these mascots haven’t got any media training yet!”
EATING, exercising and even having sex at specific times of the day could help you clock up health benefits.
We revealed yesterday how research has shown your morning coffee could slash the risk of a heart attack or stroke.
But it is not the only activity that can give you a boost if carried out at the right point in the day.
Here we bring you a timeline that is proven to be the best one for your body.
6.50am: Wake up and sip the coffee. Drinking your caffeine-packed brew first thing could help cut risk of death from heart-related issues by up to 31 per cent, research shows.
But that is only if you have it at the start of the day, the study from Tulane University in New Orleans, found.
Consume it after noon and you will lose the benefits.
7.11am: Breakfast time. Eating within 30 minutes of waking is best to boost metabolism and provide energy for the day ahead.
Somewhere between 6am and 9.45am is ideal but if you can, have it at 7.11am precisely – it is the optimal time to eat breakfast, according to boffins in Spain.
8.15am: Work up a sweat. Exercising before 11am is associated with the lowest future risk of stroke and heart disease.
And when it comes to weight loss, a 2023 study published in the journal Obesity found exercising between 7am and 9am was the most effective time to help you shed pounds.
11.55am: Seek the sun. Getting outside before noon for at least ten minutes should help you nod off at night as it aids your body clock.
Being exposed to the sun also helps your body make Vitamin D, which is essential for teeth, bone and muscle health.
Consider supplementing with a daily 10microgram of vitamin D in the autumn and winter.
12.38pm: Eat lunch. From 12.30pm to 12.40pm is ideal for lunch with the best time being 12.38pm, according to research at University of Murcia, Spain.
Eating four or five hours after breakfast keeps blood sugar levels steady to help minimise afternoon slumps.
1.08pm: Daily stroll followed by a cuppa. Getting your steps in 30 minutes after eating helps stabilise blood-sugar levels and regulate it for the day ahead and also improve digestion.
Enjoy a cuppa when you get back, too. Drinking tea in the afternoon can assist with boosting your immune system and help prevent you succumbing to those winter cold and flu viruses.
5.12pm: Pump iron. This precise time was the best for peak performance, a recent study of Olympic medal-winning swimmers showed.
So get lifting those weights! Strength and endurance, as well as body temperature, typically peaks for both men and women between 4pm and 6pm, making it the optimal window to boost or maintain strength and muscle.
6.14pm: Dinner time. Eating your evening meal earlier than you might expect could be the best option for your health.
Chowing down at around 6pm – with 6.14pm precisely shown to be optimal time – led to a ten per cent increase in fat burning overnight.
But if that is not realistic and you can’t eat until later on in the evening, don’t worry.
Most scientists agree the main thing to aim for is clearing your plate at least three hours before bedtime.
This allows your body adequate time for digestion before your head hits the pillow.
10.20pm: Have sex. The key time for nookie varies depending on age.
But for the average fortysomething in the UK, just after 10pm is best for intimacy, according to Dr Paul Kelley from Oxford University’s Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute.
Benefits of a bedtime bonk include stress reduction and improved heart health.
While the happy hormones that are released should also help you to fall asleep more easily.
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