LIV Golf today announced its first expansion team, Legion XIII, the
first new team to join the league since its inception in 2022. Captained
by two-time major winner and reigning Masters champion, Jon Rahm, Legion XIII
will begin competing at the league’s season-opening event, LIV Golf
Mayakoba, teeing off this Friday at El Camaleon Golf Course in Playa del
Carmen, Mexico.
“We’ve come a long way in a short period of time and are
extremely proud of the team and brand we are building,” said Rahm. “As we were
developing the team’s brand it became clear that I wanted to fight
alongside a group of guys who aligned perfectly with what the team stands
for. Tyrrell is
a fierce competitor, proven champion, and of course my Ryder Cup
teammate. Caleb is one of the brightest next gen stars of the game. And
Kieran is a steady, talented ball striker who earned his promotion to LIV
and is elevating his game every day.”
“The introduction of Legion XIII is a testament to LIV
Golf’s continued growth as our league builds for the long-term,” said LIV
Golf Commissioner and CEO Greg
Norman. “Jon Rahm is one of the top competitors in the
world and his team will make an immediate impact on the league both on
and off the golf course. I’m thrilled to welcome his new teammates, Ryder
Cup star Tyrrell Hatton and young gun Caleb Surratt, along with LIV Golf
Promotions standout Kieran
Vincent, who will undoubtedly be great additions to the league. This is
another exciting moment in the natural evolution of LIV Golf and the
future for the sport.”
ROSTER BREAKDOWN
The Legion XIII roster was finalized following the recent
signings of Tyrrell
Hatton (England), Caleb
Surratt (United States), and Kieran Vincent
(Zimbabwe).
JON RAHM – The
Spaniard has amassed 20 wins over his career, including the 2023 Masters,
2021 U.S. Open, and the DP World Tour Championship three times (2017,
2019, 2022). Rahm has played in three consecutive Ryder Cups, helping
lead Team Europe to victory in 2018 and 2023. Last year, Rahm won four
times while also finishing tied for second in the 151st Open Championship
and tied for fifth in the DP World Tour Championship.
TYRRELL HATTON – Hatton
has been a fixture on the last three European Ryder Cup teams, playing a
crucial role in reclaiming the cup (alongside Rahm) in the 2023 match,
where he captured 3.5 out of 4 points. A six-time champion on the DP
World Tour, Hatton has won four Rolex Series titles, including a victory
at Europe’s flagship event, the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. The
Brit has been ranked in the top 10 in the world and claimed his maiden
PGA Tour title in 2020 at The Arnold Palmer Invitational.
"I’m really excited for this next chapter, to link up
with Jon Rahm and Legion XIII, and to get started this week in Mexico,”
said Hatton.
CALEB SURRATT –
One of the top amateur golfers in the world turns pro to join Legion
XIII. Surratt won three of a possible four points in his 2023 Walker Cup
debut, one of many outstanding performances for the decorated amateur.
The North Carolina native enjoyed an illustrious college career, becoming
the first University of Tennessee player to receive first-team
All-America honors while also winning the 2023 SEC Championship
individual title – the first freshman to do so since Justin Thomas in
2012.
“The opportunity to turn pro and be a part of Jon Rahm’s
team is truly a special opportunity that is a great fit for me. I’m
excited about the chance to compete and begin my professional career here
in Mayakoba,” said Surratt.
KIERAN VINCENT – Vincent
excelled at LIV Golf Promotions, the league’s inaugural three-day
showdown in December 2023, to secure one of the three qualifying spots up
for grabs through the tournament. The Zimbabwean turned pro in 2022 and
played collegiately at Liberty University. He joins his brother, Scott
(Iron Heads GC), as the only brother duo in the league.
BEHIND THE BRAND: LEGION XIII
Pulling from the attitude attributes of ‘proud’,
‘determined’, and ‘true’, Rahm infused his team’s DNA with honesty,
emotion, and a sense of togetherness. United under the mantra ‘Together we play. Together we conquer.’,
Legion XIII is bred by passion, energized by power, and full of pride.
“I wanted to go down the warrior spirit mythology side for the team's
name,” said Rahm.
“The term loyalty is very important for me – I think it embodies the
warrior spirit through its decisiveness and ready-for-battle mindset.
During the Roman Empire, there was the iconic Legion XIII Gemina in
Caesar’s army. They believed in the credo of faithful loyalty.”
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