Tom McKibbin’s Legion XIII won the season-ending LIV Golf Team Championship in Michigan last weekend.
McKibbin, Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton, and Caleb Surratt beat Bryson DeChambeau’s Crushers GC in a playoff hole for the title.
It was close to a dream debut season for the Northern Irishman, who established himself as one of the best young golfers in the world.
After his team’s victory at the Team Championship, he shared his experience playing alongside Rahm and Hatton this year.
Tom McKibbin enjoys playing with Legion XIII teammates Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton
McKibbin’s decision to join LIV Golf instead of the PGA Tour was heavily criticized, but it appears to have worked out well so far.
The 22-year-old finished 20th in the season standings and has “learned a lot” by sharing a locker room with world-class teammates Rahm and Hatton.
“Yeah, I think getting to spend time with Jon and Tyrrell has definitely, I’ve definitely learned a lot from them,” McKibbin said.
“And then I think getting paired with some of the other guys and stuff throughout the tournaments, people that you’ve watched on TV or grew up watching, I’m getting to learn from them.”
He continued: “Yeah, it’s been an incredible year. Getting to spend it with these three guys has been incredible. I’ve learned so much. Just being around them has been really good.
“The whole year’s been special, and today was a really cool day to sort of go out there. You’re out there on your own, but you’re playing for three other guys. For us to come out on top first year is really cool.”
It actually seems unfair that Rahm, Hatton, and McKibbin are on the same team because no other team has three top players.
Tom McKibbin says golf courses are harder on LIV Golf than the DP World Tour
Tom McKibbin pointed out an interesting difference between the DP World Tour and LIV Golf a year after switching from one to the other.
He believes that the golf courses on LIV Golf are more difficult than those he had previously experienced, which has only benefitted his development.
“I think some of the golf courses as well were a little bit trickier than what I’d been used to, so sort of getting used to those and developing my game through that.
“So I think a lot of small things that add up to quite a big sort of difference,” he explained.
The 22-year-old will surely improve next season, and it would not even be surprising to see him contend at some individual events.
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