Tom McKibbin has set his sights on his closing five events left this DP World Tour season 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, and just five places and half-a-dozen events shy of ending his year inside the top-10 on the DP World Tour money list.
And it will those finishing top-10, and not otherwise exempt, who each will be afforded full status on the 2025 PGA Tour.
Irishman Tom McKibbin now looking squarely at securing his 2025 PGA Tour card with five 2024 DP World Tour events remaining.
We saw a year ago Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre end 2023 lying 13th on the DP World Tour money-list but still 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 just six PGA Tour counting events including the presitigious Canadian and also Scottish Open titles.
McKibbin’s again shown in season 2024 he’s got the talent what it takes on the PGA Tour adding to his winning 2023 year this year with a second and seven other top-10s. One of those being a share of 10th in last fortnight’s PGA Championship.
And with six 2024 DP World Tour counting events remaining it’s little wonder McKibbin likes his chances of joining fellow Hollywood 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 five 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 more 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.
