Max Kennedy believes that missing out on a DP World Tour card at Q-School is a blessing in disguise but his number one goal for 2025 is to win the Road to Mallorca Rankings and secure promotion to Europe’s top tier.
The Royal Dublin man played the Final Stage of DP World Tour Q-School as an amateur last November and embarked on a sensational run with a final round of 64 to agonisingly miss out on a full card by one shot. While he will get the odd start on the DP World Tour, he has full status on the HotelPlanner Tour for his maiden campaign in professional golf.
The going has been tough for Kennedy so far who missed three cuts in a row to start the season. But he lies just one shot outside the top-10 of the NTT Data Pro-Am in Fancourt Golf Estate heading into the final round in South Africa.
It’s been another learning week for the 23-year-old who trailed Wilco Nienaber by ten strokes at the halfway point despite opening with rounds of 67 and 69 showing just how steep the leap from amateur golf to professional golf is.
“I saw it as a blessing in disguise if anything, because going straight to the tour from amateur golf is a big leap so to have one year on the HotelPlanner Tour and to dip my toes in a couple of events on the DP World Tour will be good it will be a good stepping stone into the future,” said Kennedy who turned professional at the start of the year.
“I want to get my DP World Tour card, finish number one on the ranking and move towards that goal.”
Kennedy showed a different side to his game on day three where he played the Outeniqua course, carding two bogeys and four birdies as he scrapped his way to the clubhouse.
“It was definitely different to the first two rounds. Today I didn’t really hit my irons too well, the first two days were a lot better, but I was able to get it up and down in a lot of places and scrap out a good score.”
The NTT Data Pro-Am has been played across the Fancourt Links, Montagu and Outeniqua courses and Kennedy is looking for a strong finish on the Montagu to round off a good week.
“It’s unbelievable, first time I’ve been here, I heard a lot about it before and it’s definitely lived up to everything I heard so it’s a real treat to play it and looking forward to another round on the Montagu tomorrow.
“It’s good it gives you a good insight to the game and lowers your expectations because the game isn’t that easy. I’ve liked it and we’ve had a lot of fun.”
