LIV Golf 2026 Season Preview: Legion XIII

Legion XIII heads into the 2026 season as the defending Team Champion, with Captain Jon Rahm aiming for a three-peat in the Individual Championship. An unchanged roster brings continuity and high expectations, especially with the shift to 72-hole events that should suit the team with two of the league’s best players. Poised to remain among the elite, Legion XIII looks to dominate once again. 

2026 ROSTER

Jon Rahm (captain), 31, Spain. LIV Golf starts (26); Best result (1st) 

Tyrrell Hatton, 34, England. LIV Golf starts (26); Best result (1st) 

Tom McKibbin, 23, Northern Ireland. LIV Golf starts (13); Best result (T4) 

Caleb Surratt, 21, United States. LIV Golf starts (26); Best result (3rd) 

OFFSEASON NEWS

The core group that delivered the 2025 Team Championship returns intact, providing stability and proven chemistry as they chase back-to-back titles. Tom McKibbin made offseason headlines when he won the Link Hong Kong Open which came with crucial major championship exemptions. Both Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton starred in the Ryder Cup, improving their foursomes record to 5-0 lifetime in the biannual clash.

2026 OBJECTIVES 

• Successfully defend Team Championship. 

• A third consecutive Individual Championship for Rahm. 

• Rahm to win at least one individual tournament after going winless in 2025. 

• McKibbin to earn his maiden LIV Golf victory. 

• Hatton to finish inside the top-10 after finishing 26th last season.  

• Caleb Surratt to finish inside the Lock Zone.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHTS 

Jon Rahm: The two-time reigning Individual Champion remains the cornerstone of Legion XIII. At 31, Rahm's all-around game positions him as the favorite for another season-long crown. The move to 72 holes could open more opportunities for him to convert close calls into individual wins, while his leadership will be key in guiding the team's title defense.

Tyrrell Hatton: Hatton's fiery competitiveness and precision ball-striking make him the perfect complement to Rahm. Coming off a season without an individual win, the Englishman will be eager to contend early and often. He should exceed last year’s 26th-place finish in the standings in 2026.

Tom McKibbin: The young Northern Irishman is on a superstar trajectory after a breakout debut year and an offseason win at the Link Hong Kong Open, punching a ticket to The Masters and Open Championship in the process. Now 23, McKibbin's length off the tee and improving short game give him the ability to compete with the best players in the world on any golf course. Last year, McKibbin showed flashes of elite talent. Another step forward in his development in 2026 could very well result in his maiden LIV Golf win.

Caleb Surratt: At just 21, Surratt continues to develop into a complete player. The former No. 1 player in the World Amateur Golf Rankings is already becoming elite with the driver and on the greens. The next step for his development will be to continue to become a better iron player. Surratt has improved in the standings in each of his first two seasons on LIV Golf, but his biggest jump yet should take place in 2026.

WHAT THE STATS SUGGEST

Legion XIII has been dominant, racking up eight team victories in just two seasons. Last year, they ranked first in the league in driving distance (319.0), first in greens, third in putts per tournament (114.38) in regulation (69.23%) and second in birdies per tournament (17.36). All indications are that the team will remain elite in these categories in 2026. 

WHERE CAN THEY IMPROVE?

Legion XIII only hit 58.61% of their fairways in 2025, which ranked eighth in the league. Their overall scrambling, where they rank sixth, could also be improved upon. 

KEY QUOTES

Tom McKibbin on major qualification: "Very excited to go back and play my third Open, it will be very, very cool. And to have that drive down Magnolia Lane for the first time ever, it will be even more special."

Jon Rahm on Legion XIII’s young players: "(McKibbin) is a fantastic golfer. Both him and Caleb played really well, especially at the end at the Team Championship. They won both their points and were the two better scorers within the team. So, they did fantastic.”

Jon Rahm on his future with LIV Golf: "I'm not planning on going anywhere. ...As far as I'm concerned, I'm focused on the league and my team this year, and hopefully we can repeat as champions again.” 

BOTTOM LINE

Legion XIII enters 2026 as the clear favorites to take home the Team Championship once again. The shift to 18 holes should suit the team, specifically Rahm, who was kept out of the individual win column in 2025. Hatton, McKibbin and Surratt should all improve their place in the individual standings from last year, which is a frightening proposition for the rest of the league.

THREE BOLD PREDICTIONS

• Jon Rahm wins at least three individual trophies. 

• Tom McKibbin wins LIV Golf UK. 

• Legion XIII successfully defends their team title.