Kennedy starts tour life aiming to be “the best golfer in the world”

Tom McKibbin’s expected move to LIV Golf remains the big talking point in Irish golf as Max Kennedy makes his professional Challenge Tour debut determined to become “the best golfer in the world”.

While Rory McIlroy and others have tried to dissuade McKibbin from making the leap to the Saudi-backed league, tour sources expect him to be announced as a member of Jon Rahm’s Legion XIII team before the opening event in Riyadh, potentially on February 2.

Any other result would be a major surprise, and while there are concerns about the wisdom of McKibbin’s decision in terms of his major and Ryder Cup future, his emergence as a star is an inspiration to a new generation of ambitious young Irish players.

McKibbin (22) is one of the favourites for the DP World Tour’s Ras Al Khaimah Championship, where he is grouped with Jimmy Walker and Italy’s Guido Migliozzi at Al Hamra Golf Club.

Veteran Pádraig Harrington is also in the field, as is Portmarnock’s Conor Purcell, who followed in McKibbin’s footsteps by graduating to the DP World Tour from the Challenge Tour last year.

Purcell won twice to secure his card, and with Europe’s second-tier circuit teeing off today with the SDC Open at Zebula Golf Estate & Spa in South Africa, Irish eyes are on Kennedy (23), who shot 34 under par for three stages of the DP World Tour Q-School last year and only missed out on his full card by a shot.

Far from being downcast about his near miss, Kennedy has vowed to focus on the Challenge Tour, which will see the top 20 players awarded full cards.

The Royal Dublin man is inspired by previous graduates like McKibbin and Purcell and hoping to learn his trade on the second-tier circuit this year.

“It would have been really nice to get my full card,” said Kennedy, who is joined in Limpopo by another outstanding Irish prospect in Galway’s Liam Nolan.

“But at the same time, this is going to be my first year as a pro, and having that full status on the Challenge Tour will allow me to travel around, get used to different countries, get used to different environments, and get used to the tour life at a lower level.

“If I was to go straight into the DP World Tour now, I think I'd be ready. But I think I’ll learn a lot more on the Challenge Tour in terms of my game.”

Kennedy won’t be at the Anantara The Marker Dublin Hotel tomorrow to accept his 2024 Amateur of the Year Award from the Irish Golf Writers’ Association, but he has big plans.

“My ambition is to be the best golfer in the world,” said the University of Louisville graduate, whose second collegiate win earned him a PGA Tour start in the Puerto Rico Open from March 6-9.

“That's been the ambition since day one. If you strive for greatness, you're going to get close enough to it. So that's my number one goal — to be the best golfer in the world.”