Rory McIlroy suggests how he expects Tom McKibbin to fare on the PGA Tour next season

Add as preferred source on Google

While there was no drama at all when it came to the overall Race to Dubai winner on Sunday at the DP World Tour Championship, there was some tension when it came to the winner of the event as well as who would get the PGA Tour cards for next season.

Rory McIlroy managed to get the job done to secure his fourth victory of the year, with the Northern Irishman beating Rasmus Hojgaard to the title after struggling to shake off the Dane during the final round.

Hojgaard’s reward is one of those PGA Tour cards. Meanwhile, Thriston Lawrence – the only man who could stop McIlroy winning the Race to Dubai this week – Matteo Manassero and Antoine Rozner are amongst those who will also get the opportunity to play stateside next year.

And the last man through the door was McIlroy’s countryman Tom McKibbin, with the 21-year-old holding onto 18th place as Jordan Smith fell out of the spots.

Rory McIlroy reacts as Tom McKibbin earns his PGA Tour card for 2025

Of course, McKibbin is no stranger to being asked about comparisons with McIlroy, with the pair both playing at Holywood Golf Club as youngsters. And following his win, McIlroy suggested that he is excited to see what McKibbin could do next year.

“He’s done amazingly well, and I think his game is going to be suited for America. He hits the ball high. Hits it long. He won in Germany last year, The European Open. He’s had chances this year; the playoff against Marcel in Italy, and 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,” he said.

“Obviously very, very happy for him and excited he achieved one of his big goals this year and getting one of those cards.”

Where McKibbin’s 2024 numbers would place him on the PGA Tour

Obviously, the tasks McKibbin will face on the PGA Tour are very different to what he will have come up against on the DP World Tour. But perhaps a better idea of how he will get on can be gained from looking at some of his statistics this season and comparing them with those on the PGA Tour.

The strongest aspect of McKibbin’s game is off the tee, with the youngster 14th on tour for driving accuracy. However, his numbers would put just outside the top 60 on the PGA Tour. And it is a similar story for distance.

He would perform well if he matches his green in regulation percentage next year. Meanwhile, he is right on the tour average mark on the PGA Tour for putts per round.

Clearly, McKibbin is not yet the finished article. But those numbers alone do hint that there are enough positive signs to suggest that he will be able to hold his own on the PGA Tour – as McIlroy expects.