The agony and ecstasy of sport is set to be on display this week with plenty at stake for many of those in action at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters as Tom McKibbin and John Murphy tackle different agendas in Doha.
The tournament’s 26th edition is the last ‘regular’ event of the 2023 DP World Tour season, offering players the final opportunity to secure their playing privileges for the 2024 campaign via their Race to Dubai Ranking.
Following this week’s event in the Middle East, there is a one-week break on the schedule before the Nedbank Golf Challenge which features a 66-player field.
While the chance to tee it up at Sun City will be a source of motivation for many in action, there is also the allure of being among the top 50 available players on the Race to Dubai rankings that feature in the lucrative DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
Even further up the season-long standings, there is also the question of who will earn PGA TOUR cards by finishing as the leading ten players not otherwise exempt.
After last week’s final event of the campaign on European soil, the Tour returns to the Middle East with the top 116 players at the end of this week earning exemptions into the 2024 schedule.
Those who don’t get inside the top 116 most likely face a return to the Qualifying School or a season on the European Challenge Tour.
Denmark’s John Axelsen, who has missed three of his last five cuts, occupies the ‘magic’ 116th spot.
Kinsale man Murphy is 210th in the Race to Dubai and needs a win to retain his full playing privileges for next year but with Q-School approaching next month, finding some form this week is paramount ahead of a gruelling test in Spain.
McKibbin meanwhile has been trending in the right direction and at 42nd in the Race to Dubai it’s about consolidating his Tour Championship place.
The 20-year-old was 34th at the Andalucia Masters having been in contention at the halfway stage only for a Saturday 74 to derail his chances of a second DP World Tour win.
Rookie of the Year is still in his sights and a strong showing could boost his chances heading into the final two events of the campaign in South Africa and Dubai.
New Zealand’s Daniel Hillier, who won the Betfred British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo at The Belfry, is currently leading the way from the Class of 2022 in the Challenge Tour Graduate of the Year.
The Kiwi is 26th on the season-long standings, three places above Road to Mallorca Rankings champion Nathan Kimsey with McKibbin – another winner on Tour this season – still in the hunt.
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