Rory McIlroy's pal Tom McKibbin close to joining LIV just weeks after securing his place on the PGA Tour as Saudi-backed league switch up approach

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Tom McKibbin is close to completing a shock move to the LIV circuit just weeks after securing his place on the PGA Tour.

The Northern Irishman, who is friends with Rory McIlroy and emerged from the same Holywood Golf Club as the world No 3, has been targeted by Jon Rahm's Legion VIII.

The proposed switch will raise eyebrows in the sport, given the 22-year-old secured one of 10 cards to the PGA Tour in November via his results on the DP World Tour. 

Ranked 110 in the world, having already won one professional title, McKibbin has also been identified by European captain Luke Donald as a future Ryder Cup player.

The plan to sign McKibbin, who is loaded with talent but lacks profile outside of golf, comes at a point when LIV have noticeably altered their strategy away from star recruitments.

After the raft of top tier acquisitions in their first three years, the circuit has so far brought in just three new faces since the end of the 2024 season.

Tom McKibbin is close to completing a shock move to the LIV circuit just weeks after securing his place on the PGA Tour

The Northern Irishman is friends with Rory McIlroy and emerged from the same Holywood Golf Club as the world No 3

No marquee names are among them one month out from the start of the new campaign in Saudi Arabia.

LIV have undergone a turbulent winter, with Greg Norman recently confirming he will leave his post as CEO and merger talks between their Saudi backers and the PGA Tour slowing to a crawl.