Lowry backing McKibbin to crack the top level

Ronan MacNamara

14th November 2024

Shane Lowry is backing Tom McKibbin to deliver on his potential and reach the golfing elite regardless of whether he secures a PGA Tour card this week or not.

McKibbin needs a high finish at this week’s DP World Tour Championship to earn one of the ten available PGA Tour cards for 2025. At 18th in the Race to Dubai, he is just one spot outside of securing his ticket to the US.

Lowry and McKibbin are locked together in Dubai after opening rounds of one-under 71 as they trail Rory McIlroy and Tyrrell Hatton by four shots.

McKibbin has vowed to keep attacking over the next three rounds and Lowry who was impressed by what he saw from the 21-year-old when they played the final round of the BMW PGA Championship in Wentworth together is backing the youngster to deliver one way or another.

“I don’t know Tom too well; I see him around,” Lowry told Meridian Media’s Denis Kirwan. “But I think his career is on a great trajectory. He’s got nothing to worry about as long as he keeps being himself.

“I played with him the final round of Wentworth, I was very impressed, my first tournament round with him.

“I think as long as he keeps being himself the next couple of years, he’ll do great things in the game.”

Lowry himself has his own agenda on the Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates as he seeks to land his first individual title in just over 24 months and end a run of five successive top-13 finishes.

I feel comfortable in my game and I want to go out there and give it a go the next couple of days.

“Give me one good week over all the average weeks. This is my last week for a while so give it my all for the last few days and see what happens.”