It’s crunch time on the DP World Tour, with ten lucrative PGA Tour cards on the line for some of the tour’s brightest prospects.
The Race to Dubai top ten, who are not already exempt, will earn PGA Tour membership for the 2025 season and make the trip across the Atlantic.
Robert MacIntyre and Matthieu Pavon were notable names who followed the pathway last year. MacIntyre won the Canadian and Scottish Opens, and Pavon pushed Bryson DeChambeau all the way at the US Open.
| 2024 Race to Dubai excluding excemptions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Ranking | Player | Points |
| 1 | Thriston Lawrence | 2959.94 |
| 2 | Rasmus Højgaard | 2612.05 |
| 3 | Matteo Manassero | 2039.03 |
| 4 | Niklas Norgaard | 2027.03 |
| 5 | Jesper Svensson | 1977.34 |
| 6 | Rikuya Hoshino | 1820.11 |
| 7 | Sebastian Soderberg | 1705.05 |
| 8 | Jordan Smith | 1616.72 |
| 9 | Guido Migliozzi | 1614.65 |
| 10 | Romain Langasque | 1561.39 |
South African Thriston Lawrence and Dane Rasmus Hojgaard are all confirmed to play on the PGA Tour in 2025. Lawrence is Rory McIlroy’s nearest challenger in the Race to Dubai standings, and Hojgaard is just 300 points back in third.
However, the rest of the top ten is by no means set in stone.
Tom McKibbin makes PGA Tour charge at Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship
Northern Irishman Tom McKibbin currently sits 11th in the Race to Dubai rankings (excluding exemptions) and is in need of two big weeks to earn a PGA Tour card.
McKibbin is looking to finish the year well after losing ground at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, Open de France and Andalucia Masters.
A big performance was required at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, and McKibbin is rising to the challenge in the third round.
Through eleven holes, the 21-year-old is six under, having made four birdies and an eagle. The Northern Irishman is now six shots back of the lead and in a tie for seventh spot.
McKibbin has given his PGA Tour chances a massive boost and heaped pressure on those inside the top ten.
Rory McIlroy would love Tom McKibbin to earn PGA Tour card
McIlroy and McKibbin are well aware of each other, having both come through Holywood Golf Club. McKibbin even admitted he gets frustrated talking about McIlroy with the press quick to liken the pair whenever they’re competing in the same event.
The four-time major winner will no doubt be pleased to see McKibbin’s progress at Yas Links. McIlroy was delighted after McKibbin made the Irish Open cut, and he will probably have a close eye on his compatriot over the coming week.
For McKibbin, looking to contend at the HSBC Championship and season-ending finale is all he can do as his 2025 PGA Tour fate is decided.
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