Tom McKibbin earns DP World Tour card in Mallorca

Ireland has a new member of the DP World Tour after 19-year-old Tom McKibbin secured his card for 2023 at the Rolex Challenge Tour's Road to Mallorca finale.

The player, who like Rory McIlroy hails from Holywood in County Down, produced a brilliant 66 to ensure that it was a stroll to one of the 20 entries on offer.

Nathan Kimsey finished first on nine-under-par, enough to secure top spot in the overall Challenge Tour Championship.

McKibbin had entered the tournament in 15th in the standings, but with extra points on offer in the last event – and successive rounds of 73 to start – he had fallen to 19th in the rankings and a tense weekend looked in store at Club de Golf Alcanada.

However, a 70 on Saturday steadied the ship before he cruised home with a final-round 66 to finish 10th in the overall season standings.

Four birdies in his first eight holes sent him on his way on Sunday before a bogey at the ninth – for the third time this week – disrupted his momentum.

McKibbin quickly regained that shot at the par-five 11th and further birdies at the 13th and 18th ensured a six-under-par finish.

DP World Tour players will be guaranteed $150,000 (€153,000) next season in the latest response to the threat of LIV Golf.

There was less joy for fellow Irish man John Murphy who had arrived at the 45-player event requiring a special performance.

Murphy entered the event 42nd in the rankings so needed to push for victory, but an opening-round 76 all but killed those ambitions.

Successive rounds of 72 followed before a final round of 75 saw him finish on three-over-par and 44th in the rankings.