Jon Rahm's team to replace teammate after LIV Golf relegation
Jon Rahm's Legion XIII will need a new member in 2025. After a disappointing 2024 year, Rahm's teammate Kieran Vincent is being relegated from LIV Golf. The free agency rules state that players below a certain threshold must be relegated, and Vincent was not above it.
The official team account shared the news on X (formerly Twitter):
"Kieran will be leaving #LegionXIII after relegation from [LIV Golf] in the 2024 season. Kieran's hard work, talent and one-of-a-kind personality will be missed. It’s been an unforgettable year together! Thank you, Kieran."
There will be free agents and incoming players for next season, one of whom will be tabbed to take Vincent's place on Legion XIII. Rahm's unit finished second to Crushers GC in the season-long team standings.
The team has not updated its bio (it still lists Tyrrell Hatton, Caleb Surratt, and Vincent as members) nor posted a tweet announcing the new player, so it remains to be seen who will join Rahm, the 2024 LIV individual champion, next year.
They could go after an existing LIV Golf player or someone who has moved up in place of the relegated players. They may also wait for a wild card, someone who is in their first year with LIV.
That could be Tony Finau, whose back-to-back withdrawals from the Hero World Challenge and Grant Thornton Invitational sparked rumors that he was defecting from the PGA Tour.
Reported LIV Golf target spurns tour
Jon Rahm was speculated to go after Angel Ayora, a young player not yet on the PGA Tour. He reportedly rejected the advances of LIV. Per Golf Magic, the Challenge Tour player didn't want to risk his future by joining the rebel tour.
SI reporter Matt Vincenzi said:
"If I'm the PGA Tour, I find a way to get Angel Ayora a PGAT card. Reportedly turned down LIV. 20 year old stud, get him on Tour. Meritocracy, yeah sure. Need young stars now. As many as possible."
Former pro Rob Lee said:
"I watched him for three days be pretty perfect. The swing, the short game, the power, the putting. All of it. He has got the complete package. Temperament wise might be his strongest card."
He added:
"So I think Angel Ayora from what I saw, and this is from four days of golf, I was super impressed with him. He is a Ryder Cup player in waiting.”
That last statement is reportedly a big reason why Rahm was linked to Ayora. Not only is Ayora a Spaniard like Rahm, but they're likely to be teammates someday on the European Ryder Cup team. For now, it looks like they will not be teammates on Legion XIII.