Rory McIlroy's reaction to DP World Tour pro earning PGA Tour card speaks volumes
Rory McIlroy was over the moon after finding out his compatriot Tom McKibbin had earned his first-ever PGA Tour card.
Rory McIlroy shared a warm embrace with Tom McKibbin at the back of the 18th after learning his compatriot had earned his first-ever PGA Tour card for 2025.
McKibbin, 21, squeezed in for the 10th and final PGA Tour card on offer via the DP World Tour Rankings following the conclusion of the DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai.
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Moments after McIlroy, 35, had won both DP World Tour Championship and Race to Dubai titles, he walked over to McKibbin, a player who he mentored in his junior days.
McIlroy asked him straight up whether he had done enough to earn a PGA Tour card to which McKibbin replied "yeah it looks like it."
The four-time major champion was over the moon for him.
McIlroy tipped McKibbin on the cap, gave him a hug and then offered him some words of encouragement ahead of joining the PGA Tour.
Scroll below to watch McIlroy and McKibbin's interaction...
"Yeah it's very exciting," McKibbin told Sky Sports Golf's Tim Barter after earning his PGA Tour card.
"It's a tour I've watched alongside the DP World Tour and it will be great to get over there and play some golf."
He added: "It seems like I like to play on some of the harder courses and that suits my game a little more, so it will be exciting to get over there and see how it goes."
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McKibbin earned the 10th and final PGA Tour card via the DP World Tour Rankings.
He joins Rasmus Hojgaard, Thriston Lawrence, Paul Waring, Thorbjorn Olesen, Jesper Svensson, Antoine Rozner, Matteo Manassero, Rikuya Hoshino and Niklas Norgaard.
McKibbin carded a final-round 72 to finish the week on 8-under par in T11.
"I think it was a tough one. I mean, sort of wanting to finish the tournament as best I can, knowing that was on the line, a hard golf course and pretty tricky day," he added.
"Especially 17, 18, I feel like you don't have to hit too poor of a shot find the water and likely I hit pretty good ones."
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