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.
