Justin Rose reacts as Tom McKibbin said to be joining LIV Golf despite qualifying for the PGA Tour

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Justin Rose has perhaps been handed an unwanted distraction ahead of the Team Cup with rising star Tom McKibbin.

McKibbin is set to join LIV Golf, where the PGA Tour youngster is expected to team up with Jon Rahm for Legion XIII.

Northern Irishman McKibbin only just earned a PGA Tour card for the 2025 season, but his place on the tour is now up in the air given his links with LIV Golf.

The 22-year-old, who has two professional wins in his brief career so far, featured at the US Open and The Open Championship in 2024.

And McKibbin is now in Abu Dhabi for the 2025 Team Cup, playing for Great Britain & Ireland against Continental Europe.

Justin Rose reacts to Tom McKibbin potentially joining LIV Golf from the PGA Tour

European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald is in attendance at the team event in the United Arab Emirates, where Rose is captaining Great Britain & Ireland.

Speaking of McKibbin’s potential defection to LIV Golf, Rose told BBC Sport: “I think we’re all aware of that.

READ MORE: What Rory McIlroy has previously said about Tom McKibbin who looks set to be next to join LIV Golf

“It hasn’t been confirmed to me, but it hasn’t been denied either. The team room is the team room this week and the lads are all here for this week.”

What does Justin Rose think about the current PGA Tour and LIV Golf situation?

The PGA Tour and LIV Golf remain in a standoff, despite a framework agreement being signed in June 2023.

A merger has been on the cards since that coming together between the PGA Tour, the DP World Tour and the PIF, which funds LIV.

READ MORE: How Justin Rose reacted after seeing the Great Britain & Ireland Team Cup locker room for the first time

Rose is, of course, a PGA Tour veteran, with the Englishman boasting 11 tour wins, including the 2013 US Open.

The 44-year-old also has an Olympic gold medal to his name, and once reached top spot in the world rankings.

And he believes players are now used to speculation about their fellow professionals since the emergence of LIV, with Rose adding: “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.”