Holywood golf club star Tom McKibbin has decided not to heed his mentor Rory McIlroy's advice - with Jon Rahm confirming that the 22-year-old Northern Irishman has joined his Legion XIII team for the upcoming LIV Golf season.

There was surprise in golfing circles a fortnight ago when reports emerged from Spain that McKibbin, who had earned the 10th and last PGA Tour card on the DP World Tour last season, was to be LIV's latest signing.

When the rumours circulated three weeks ago, McKibbin was preparing for the Team Cup in Abu Dhabi as part of the 10-strong Great Britain and Ireland team - and he fuelled the rumours by refusing to deny a switch was in the works.

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Rahm confirmed the move on social media on Wednesday evening when he posted a video, declaring: 'Tom McKibbin, welcome to the team. Let's go!'

The Newtownabbey man joins Tyrrell Hatton and Caleb Surratt on Rahm's four man team for the start of the LIV season in Riyadh on February 6, thus relinquishing his chance to play on the PGA Tour.

However he is likely to play a limited number of DP World Tour events and he has already qualified for The Open, which takes place in Portrush this summer.

It remains to be seen if he will be available for Ryder Cup selection by Team Europe, but Luke McDonald will want Rahm and Hatton on board for the away match against the USA in September.

McKibbin turned pro in the spring of 2021 and he won his first DP World Tour event in the summer of 2023 at the Porsche European Open in Germany.

Addressing a potential move recently, McIlroy said he would be "a bit disappointed" if his fellow Hollywood GC decided to follow in Graeme McDowell's footsteps and switched to LIV, although he did add that he would help McKibbin in any way he could in the future.

"If I were in his position, which I think I have been before, and had his potential I wouldn't make that decision," admitted McIlroy. "But I'm not him. I'm not in his shoes. He's a grown man at this point and can make his own decisions."

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