Despite missing the cut on his professional debut on home soil at the Amgen Irish Open at Doonbeg last month, Thomas Higgins gave a glimpse of his capabilities and already feels that life on Tour would suit him when he gets there.
Higgins has only ever dreamed of being a professional and he was over the moon to be handed his dream pro debut alongside the likes of Rory McIlroy, Pádraig Harrington and Shane Lowry, with the 23-year-old now chasing a new dream of living up to his heroes.
The Roscommon star won his Clutch Pro Tour card this week and has already progressed to the Second Stage of DP World Tour Q-School at the end of October so may be able to fast-track his way to the top level in Europe.
“I dreamed about turning pro very early. I’d say 11, 12 years old, that’s probably when I [first] thought about it,” says Higgins. “So, I’ve been a long time thinking about it and it was a bit surreal getting my first pro start and making my debut at the Irish Open. It was unreal. I’m really grateful to Golf Ireland for giving me the invite. I couldn’t have dreamed of a better place to start my career.”
2026 has been a fantastic year to date for Higgins, who could make it even better if he can secure his full DP World Tour card via Q-School in November.
It was a crowning season for his amateur career, one that included European and Home Internationals glory for Ireland, as well as his first men’s championship at the Irish Close in his home province of Connacht, in Portumna.
A lot of Irish players who Higgins would have played alongside in Irish championships – or on the US collegiate scene – have turned pro in the last three seasons, but he says his decision to join them in the pro ranks had nothing to do with how he performed this summer.
“I was turning professional regardless of how my summer went,” he explained. “I think turning pro is a decision you should make years in advance. You shouldn’t turn pro because you won a big tournament or because you played good golf for a few months. It’s more of a lifestyle you have to have, and the way you live your life.”
Heading into the pro ranks, Higgins boasts the reputation of being a player who rises to the big occasion. None more so than the European Team Championship final in Estonia, when he holed the winning putt to beat the hosts for Ireland’s first gold medal since 2008.
“I was pretty nervous throughout the last few holes of that,” he recalled. “Once I hit it in the water on the 20th a wave of calmness came over me; I knew it was all or nothing from there. I wasn’t out of the hole or out of the match – I could still make par. I was pretty nervous over the putt, but I just let it go and trusted it. It was incredible, the best moment of my career. Just to let out that roar, all the passion… It was class.”
Just a few weeks before turning professional, Higgins came out on the right side of dramatic circumstances again when he edged out Dylan Holmes in a playoff to win the Irish Amateur Close title at Portumna.
“It’s been in my head for a while that I hadn’t won a big amateur event. To get a win before I turned pro was huge and really satisfying. It gave me a lot of confidence in my ability to win, just to prove it to myself again was really nice.”
Higgins is going into professional life with his eyes wide open. He knows that it won’t be plain sailing and he won’t panic if things get difficult. For the last two seasons he has shared a team room with Amateur champion and Walker Cup winner Stuart Grehan, who was a professional for seven years before coming back to the amateur scene.
Higgins is not only inspired by the work ethic of the County Louth man, but he has been leaning on him for advice for the paid ranks.
“Stu is great, I love Stu,” he said. “He has a lot of experience under his belt. One thing I really admire about him is how much he still wants it and how he still puts in the work. Considering he has come back from being a professional golfer and is now an amateur again, so that is really inspiring. He is very open to talking about the pro game and what he felt, and any advice I want from him, he is happy to answer and talk about it.”
Pádraig Harrington believes Irish golf is still punching well above its weight in terms of performance but is currently falling short in terms of numbers on Tour, which he hopes is just a cyclical thing.
He acknowledges that there are plenty of superstar role models for our budding pros to aspire to, but he believes peer success could drive a crop of players through to the DP World Tour.
Higgins would love to be the player who can break through and inspire those around him.
“Peer success is a big reason why I believe I can play on tour and win on tour. I’ve played against several guys that are on different tours around the world, and a few guys who are competing on DP World Tour already, so yeah, if they can do it, why can’t I?” says Higgins, who has loftier ambitions than just winning on Tour, with major triumphs and Ryder Cup battles in his sights.
“To do both of those would be amazing, I’d like that! Then I could just get used to life out here. I already like the lifestyle so to be able to play this game and make a career out of it would be a huge win for me. I just love what I do on a day-to-day basis, and if I get paid for that, all the better! That’s a bonus.”