'I've earned my stripes' - Next level awaits for Conor Purcell after earning DP World Tour card

The dream effectively became a reality on a July Sunday in Ballymena.

Conor Purcell's first professional win at the Black Desert Northern Ireland Open elevated him to fourth place in the Challenge Tour Order of Merit.

His DP World Tour card for the 2025 season was all but guaranteed.

Following on from his success at Galgorm Castle a second Challenge Tour win came in October, at the inaugural Hangzhou Open in China. Three birdies on the closing four holes helped Purcell to a comfortable four-stroke win.

"My biggest goal for 2024 was getting a win," he told RTÉ Sport's Dave Kelly.

"For the first one to be up at Galgorm, so close to home, and to have family and friends was just amazing, and then quickly followed with a second one, it all happened very quickly."

The 27-year-old Dubliner almost won his Tour card in 2023. He holds a Category 15 card for this season, having finished among the top 22 players in the final Road to Mallorca Challenge Tour standings.

"I feel like I've come through every stage over the last few years," he said. "Four years ago it would have been a big jump, but now I feel like I've earned my stripes at each level. Hopefully I can be at home straight away."

Purcell doesn't have far to look for first-hand advice about life on Tour. His father Joey played on the European Tour, and subsequently spent many years as the Portmarnock Club professional. Purcell Snr finished in a share of eighth place at the 1980 Spanish Open alongside, amongst others, Des Smyth and multiple major winners Nick Faldo, Greg Norman and Sandy Lyle.

"It's cool to follow in his footsteps. When I started my career I had fond memories of him playing, I'm sure he's proud watching me play. Hopefully I can achieve some good things for the