Bernie McGuire at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship
Tom McKibbin has set his sights firmly set on the remaining six DP World Tour events of the 2024 season as he looks to lock-in full PGA Tour membership for next season.
McKibbin, 21, tees-up in this week’s Dunhill Links Championship lying 15th on the Race to Dubai money-list, but crucially, ninth among those not otherwise exempt on the PGA Tour circuit, meaning he is on course for graduation.
A year ago, Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre finished 13th on the DP World Tour Order of Merit, and that was good enough to secure PGA membership. Then in one of the great golf stories of this season the Scot captured two Tour titles in the space of six PGA Tour counting events with memorable victories at the Canadian and Scottish Opens.
McKibbin’s again shown in 2024 that he’s got the talent it takes on the PGA Tour by following his winning 2023 season with a second-place finish and seven other top-10s. One of those being a share of 10th at the recent BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.
And with six 2024 DP World Tour counting events remaining it’s little wonder McKibbin likes his chances of joining fellow Holywood golfer Rory McIlroy on golf’s big stage.
“It would mean a lot, it’s a tour I’ve watched growing up on television and it’s somewhere I’ve always wanted to play,” said McKibbin speaking at St. Andrews with BBC Sport NI.
“To get a card out there and play a schedule would be pretty nice. I’ve just got to go out there and trust my golf.”
His other achievements during 2024 include a spell in the world’s top 100 for the first time and competing in the US Open and the Open Championship, making the cut at both tournaments.
“It’s been a very good year, a very solid year, a lot of top 10s, a lot of consistency,” McKibbin added.
“I’ve been happy with it so far. I just have to push on until the end of the year. Got to focus on these last events, there are a lot of points at stake and you can move around a lot so I’ve got to keep concentrated and just try and finish the year as best as I can.”
McKibbin, the youngest Irish winner on the DP World Tour since Rory McIlroy, has earned over one million pounds in prize money already in 2024, but it is silverware that he craves most.
“Going into these last five events I’d love to get my hands on another trophy but it’s so competitive it’s hard to win anywhere,” he said.
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