McKibbin was officially announced as Legion XIII’s newest member on Wednesday, and he’ll make his LIV Golf debut at next week’s season opener in Riyadh.
Legion XIII enjoyed a wildly successful 2024 as LIV Golf’s first expansion team, with a league-best four team tournament wins, including their first event a year ago at Mayakoba. The team’s success was built mainly on the backs of Spanish star Rahm, who won twice while claiming the season-long Individual Championship; and Englishman Tyrrell Hatton, who won once and finished fourth in the points standings.
The rest of the lineup was filled out by American Caleb Surratt, who turned pro as a teenager a year ago to join Rahm’s new team; and Zimbabwean Kieran Vincent, who earned a LIV Golf spot through the 2023 Promotions tournament. Surratt finished 41st in points while Vincent finished in the Drop Zone at 54th. His relegation opened up the spot that McKibbin filled.
While Rahm sought another budding young star to pair with the now-20-year-old Surratt, he also saw the challenges Surratt faced in transitioning to a competitive schedule that criss-crosses the globe.
“Tom is used to traveling the world, which I think is a big key,” Rahm said. “One of the reasons why maybe Caleb had not a good year last year compared to his standards was the fact that he had to travel so much, and he wasn’t used to it.
“Tom is definitely used to it. The DP World Tour, they definitely are able to travel a lot. So, having a young incredible talent with a bright future that’s used to the travel is something very, very special.”
Surratt said he met McKibbin briefly one time long before either was involved in LIV Golf. Both actually have a common bond regarding American colleges in the Southeastern Conference. Surratt spent 1-1/2 years at the University of Tennessee before turning pro; McKibbin had verbally committed to play at the University of Florida before having to adjust his career plans due to Covid.
“We both have similar paths, not really spending much or any time in college,” Surratt said. “I think it’s going to be really good for me to have a younger guy on the team as well because Jon and Tyrrell are so close.”
With a proven winner in McKibbin and a more experienced Surratt tightening up the back half of the lineup, expectations are high for Legion XIII going into their second season.
“On paper, we could be even stronger this year than we were last year. And I think coming into the Team Championship, we’re definitely going to be stronger than we were last year,” said Rahm, who was forced to withdraw from last year’s Team Championship in Dallas due to illness. Although Legion XIII won its semifinal matchup without Rahm, the team finished fourth on the all-scores-count final day.
While the immediate future looks bright for Legion XIII, Rahm is just as excited for the team’s long-range success, given that Surratt and McKibbin are the league’s two youngest players in the league. Legion XIII’s average age entering this season is 26.25, nearly four years younger than any other team.
“Let’s say it all works,” surmised Rahm, who recently turned 30. “This could be Legacy Legion XIII for a long time.”