With McKibbin’s addition, Rahm is confident that Legion XIII will be hard to stop

Mark McGowan
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Jon Rahm has welcomed Tom McKibbin and the LIV format changes (Getty Images)

Mark McGowan

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Having announced that, for the first time ever, all four players’ scores will count towards their teams total for the 2025 events, LIV Golf have turned up the pressure valve for the coming season.

And it’s a move that 2025 Individual Rankings winner Jon Rahm is welcoming with open arms.

When the league debuted in 2022, only two of the four players’ scores counted on each specific day, which increased to three on days one and two with all four only counting in the final round for events across 2024.

This has upped the ante for teams, and more crucially, the individual players on those teams who now know that a poor performance on any of the three tournament rounds will have ramifications on the team’s overall finishing place at the end of the week.

And with Tom McKibbin’s name added to a roster that already includes Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton and Caleb Surratt, Rahm feels that it plays into the hands of Legion XIII and he expects it to add additional entertainment value to each event.

“I like it,” Rahm said in his pre-tournament press conference alongside his team mates which included the latest signing.

“It benefits a team like ours. I think we have four really strong players that are really consistent. So I think it’s better for the league in general for everybody to matter every single day because Sunday is usually really, really fun. At least last year it was incredibly fun in that regard.

“But I think it’s better for the teams and the players’ development, as well, for every round to count. I’m very much in favour of it.”

Rahm went on to praise McKibbin, and said that he feels big things await the 22-year-old Holywood man in the future.

“It’s been amazing to get Tom as an addition,” the two-time major champion said.

“To get such a young player with his experience, already established and a winner as a professional multiple times is hard to come by. I’m thrilled that he decided to join the team.

“He’s very talented and I think the sky’s the limit.”

Rahm’s Ryder Cup teammate and Legion XIII Wingman Hatton concurred, saying that he feels there is no weak link in the team and that will be crucial as volatility with four scores counting is guaranteed.

“Yeah, I think we saw last year even on Sunday how quickly the leaderboards can change,” the recent Dubai Desert Classic winner added. “Having that from round one certainly brings a little bit more interest there earlier in the week.

“Like Jon said, I think we’re a pretty consistent team, and hopefully this move kind of benefits us over the course of the year.”

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