McKibbin ready for 'exciting' PGA Tour challenge

Tom McKibbin finished 18th in the Race to Dubai standings to secure a PGA Tour card

Tom McKibbin feels the courses in America should suit his game after securing a PGA Tour card for next season.

The 21-year-old from Northern Ireland finished in a tie for 11th at the DP World Tour Championship, finding a birdie on the final hole to secure the last of the 10 cards on offer at the expense of Englishman Jordan Smith.

"It would be pretty amazing to get over there and play some golf," he said.

"I seem to like to play on the harder courses and I think that suits my game a little more.

"It'll be exciting to get over there and see how it goes."

McKibbin came into the season finale at Jumeirah Golf Estates needing to leapfrog one fellow PGA Tour hopeful, but was in a strong position after shooting 67 on Saturday.

However, bogeys at the 15th and 16th on Sunday left him needing to pull back a shot and he held his nerve to find the required birdie on the 18th.

"I think it was a tough one, wanting to finish the tournament as best I can, knowing that was on the line, a hard golf course and pretty tricky day," he said.

"Especially 17, 18, I feel like you don’t have to hit too poor of a shot to find the water, but luckily I hit pretty good ones.”

McKibbin's success in the DP World tour's 2024 finale contributed to a productive day for Northern Irish golfers in Dubai with Rory McIlroy winning the tournament and clinching a sixth Race To Dubai title in the process.

The world number three had been following the progress of his fellow county Down golfer throughout and admitted he was nervous too.

"I was looking at the leaderboard today and saw Tom was in the top 10 and thought 'okay, good'. When I was walking off the last I didn't see his name," McIlroy said.

"I saw him before I signed my card and he was congratulating me. I didn't want to ask but I was like 'yay or nay?' and he said 'yes'.

"So, [I'm] very happy for him."

McIlroy agrees that McKibbin's game lends itself well to the courses on the PGA Tour.

"I think his game is going to be very suited to America, he hits it high and long," the 35-year-old added.

"He's been very, very consistent. For a guy that's only 21 to show that level of consistency, that bodes well for the future.

"Very, very happy for him and excited he achieved one of his big goals this year."