Max Kennedy is embracing the pressure at the Hangzhou Open as he looks to qualify for the Road to Mallorca Grand Final and keep his DP World Tour promotion hopes alive.
There is a target on Kennedy’s back this week at Hangzhou West Lake Golf Club. The Royal Dublin man is 45th on the Road to Mallorca Rankings with the top-45 advancing to next month’s Grand Final after this week in the race to lock up 20 cards for the DP World Tour.
“Haven’t really thought about it,” Kennedy said when asked if he was looking over his shoulder at those around the bubble trying to knock him out of the top-45 and end his season prematurely.
“I’m still trying to look towards DP World Tour rankings, my goal remains the same this week, go out and win and whatever happens after that happens. I am still focused on getting that status.”
Kennedy burst onto the scene last winter when he missed out on a DP World Tour card by a shot at Q-School but did settle for full HotelPlanner Tour status.
The 24-year-old was in the golden 20th position on the Order of Merit in June following a playoff defeat to James Morrison in France but since then he has had a best finish of 12th and tees it up this week after four missed cuts in a row.
But if you strip it all back, this has been a very encouraging first season as a touring professional for the Dubliner who is still confident that he can get himself in the promotion shake up with a strong week in China.
“If you just go out and try and improve each day and whatever happens happens. If we end up in Mallorca next month great, if not then we will go again.
“It would be amazing in my first year as a pro to have my first year in Mallorca, it was obviously the goal to get there and give myself a chance of getting inside the top-20. First things first is getting there and we will figure it out after that.”
Kennedy is joined in the field by Liam Nolan who is 37th on the rankings and also needs a good week to push himself closer to the top-20.
