Tom McKibbin soared 31 places to a career-high 97th in the Official World Golf Ranking after a runner-up finish in the Italian Open saw him break into the top-100 in the world for the first time.

Despite being denied a second DP World Tour win by Marcel Siem in a playoff, the Holywood star walked away with plenty of accolades, securing his place in this month’s Open Championship for the first time, while he climbed to 8th place in the Race to Dubai Rankings, strengthening his case for a PGA Tour card at the end of the year.

The top-10 players in the final standings who are not already exempt will receive passages to play Stateside next season.

The 21-year-old can now forego his place in Final Qualifying for the Open on Tuesday while he has also pulled out of this week’s BMW International Open in Germany after six top-10 finishes in his last ten starts.

“I’m so excited,” McKibbin said of The Open. “Thrilled. I got a taste of what the US Open was like a couple of weeks ago. So obviously, I’m looking forward to going to Troon.

“I’ve never played it. I went to one of the practice rounds there the last time it was played, but I can’t remember anything about it.”

Meanwhile Lauren Walsh finished T3 at the Swiss Open as she continued a very impressive rookie season on the Ladies European Tour.

The Castlewarden woman climbed to 38th on the LET money list for the season and is now ranked fourth in the Rookie of the Year race.