Jon Rahm claims there’s a youngster on LIV Golf he’s ‘a little bit jealous of’ who can do things even he could not

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Jon Rahm was extremely complimentary of one LIV golfer in his press conference before The Open Championship.

LIV Golf is often criticized for many reasons, from the format to the politics, but nobody can deny the top talent on their roster.

The likes of Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, Tyrrell Hatton, and Joaquin Niemann are certainly among the best players on the planet.

And Rahm recently praised another “fantastic golfer” on the LIV circuit who has an “incredible gift” that he does not.

• READ MORE: Lee Westwood reveals the ‘daft’ amount of money he owes the DP World Tour in fines after joining LIV Golf

Jon Rahm offers ‘phenomenal’ praise to talented LIV golfer

Tom McKibbin might not be one of the biggest names on the LIV Golf tour, but his golfing ability is better than most.

Fellow Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy even tipped McKibbin to become a top-10 player in the world one day, such is his enormous potential.

Rahm has played alongside the 24-year-old for LIV’s Legion XIII team this season and has been mightily impressed with not only his game but his demeanor.

“Well, Tom McKibbin should be really looking forward to this week, being a member here and being from Northern Ireland,” Rahm said before The Open. “He’s a fantastic young man.

“For a 24-year-old to be as calm and collected as he is is quite phenomenal. He’s quiet by nature, but even in competition, when things go wrong, he stays quite calm, and it’s just remarkable and an incredible gift to have for a young player.

“I don’t think I can relate to that whatsoever, so I’m a little bit jealous of that. I think it’s going to serve him very well in the long run.

“Obviously, I think he’s internally processing the same emotions that all of us are processing, but outwardly, he stays really, really calm, and that helps him quite a bit, on top of having a fantastic golf swing.

“I don’t know what it is about Northern Ireland, but they have two of the most beautiful golf swings ever produced in golf. He’s a fantastic golfer in general. He’s got all the tools he needs to succeed in this game, and so far in his early career, he’s done so.”

Tom McKibbin’s major championship results show room for improvement

McKibbin has made three major championship appearances before The Open at Royal Portrush this week.

His major debut came at the 2024 US Open, when he finished tied-41st, before coming joint-66th in The Open at Royal Troon.

He was not invited to either the Masters or the US Open earlier this season, but he did play and make the cut at the PGA Championship (T50).

It’s impressive that McKibbin has made the cut in all three starts, and he will be hoping that those are a springboard to a better finish at Royal Portrush.

Considering he’s a member at the golf club, which is only an hour away from where he grew up, this week provides an excellent opportunity to record his first top 20 at a major.