On the eve of the Team Cup in Abu Dhabi, GB&I team captain Justin Rose admits that the team are well aware of the rumours swirling that Tom McKibbin, one of 10 GB&I team members alongside the playing captain himself, is set to join LIV Golf before the commencement of the 2025 LIV season.
He is adamant, however, that the topic will have no bearing on the team atmosphere as the GB&I side get set to battle Francesco Molinari’s Continental Europeans in the Middle East in an effective dress rehearsal for the Ryder Cup at Bethpage in New York later this year.
“I think we’re all aware of that,” the Englishman told BBC Sport’s Iain Carter. “It hasn’t been confirmed to me, but it hasn’t been denied either.
“I think all of that is down the road in the future and we’re used to that narrative in golf now the last few years, it’s been unsettled for a while. We’re all quite accustomed to it.
“My team is just enjoying being here in the Middle East – what a wonderful place to start the season – and mucking in and wanting to get their own individual seasons off to a fantastic start.”
McKibbin himself was quizzed earlier in the week but declined to comment, saying: “I’m not going to make any comments this week out of respect for Justin.”
Luke Donald, who is set to captain team Europe for the second successive Ryder Cup and is also present in Abu Dhabi, was also asked about the rumours with the Holywood man touted as a potential European Ryder Cup player for 2025 and future stagings.
“Tom has to make the decisions that he feels are best for him,” Donald told Gulf News. “I talked to Tom and he’s very much looking forward to this week, looking forward to playing for Justin, looking forward to try and impress me and contribute to the team.”
Leave a comment