Golf has never been a forgiving sport—especially when fate and timing get in the way.
Just ask Jordan Smith, a calm-headed pro from Bath who came painfully close to a PGA Tour dream last year… only to miss it by a technicality.
Now 32 and in top form, Smith has his sights firmly set on redemption—starting with next week’s US Open at Oakmont, one of golf’s toughest tests.
But behind the smile and steady play is a story of frustration that could spark change in how professional golf does business.
The “Almost” That Still Stings
Let’s rewind to the end of 2024. Smith had just wrapped a solid DP World Tour season and landed 11th on the rankings.
Normally, the top 10 get golden tickets to the PGA Tour—essentially golf’s big leagues.
The problem? He missed out by one spot. That final ticket went to Tom McKibbin, a Northern Irish rising star who, at the time, was rumored to be flirting with a move to LIV Golf.
Smith’s misfortune? McKibbin didn’t confirm his move until after the PGA Tour’s year-end deadline.
If he’d made it official just a week or two earlier, Smith would have taken his place. Brutal.
“I was definitely thinking that when the news broke,” Smith told Mail Sport.
“It was a hard blow to miss out. Getting on the PGA Tour has always been one of my big goals.”
No Grudges, Just Regret
To Smith’s credit, there’s no bitterness—at least not towards McKibbin personally.
The two even played on the same side at the Team Cup in Abu Dhabi back in January, and by then, the whispers about McKibbin’s exit were already circulating.
“We didn’t talk about it, but we got on great,” Smith said.
“There were no hard feelings. It’s just annoying, that’s all.”
Still, the situation raises a fair question: Should the PGA Tour change the rule to allow the next in line to step up if someone defects to LIV before playing any Tour events?
“It happened to Rasmus Hojgaard too,” Smith added, referencing another case where a player earned a PGA card and then left.
“It’s something they should probably fix.”
Fuel for the Fire
Rather than dwelling on the near miss, Smith is turning the disappointment into motivation.
With five months left in the DP World Tour season, he’s once again in strong contention to make the coveted top 10 and finally earn his PGA card. And things are looking good.
He recently logged two top-four finishes in four starts and clinched his place in the US Open by winning a qualifier at Walton Heath.
Now, he’s preparing to tackle Oakmont, a venue known as one of the most brutal in major championship golf.
“I’ve heard it’s brutal, but I’m excited,” he said. “My game feels really close.
In China, I was maybe one good tee shot away. Same in Belgium.”
A Career That’s Quietly Built Momentum
It’s been three years since Smith last won on the DP World Tour—his second win after debuting with a victory in 2017.
That same year, he nearly bagged Rookie of the Year, only losing out to Jon Rahm, who has since gone on to win two majors.
“I suppose Rahm’s done okay for himself!” Smith laughed.
Still, Smith isn’t exactly scraping by. With £7.5 million in career earnings across 226 tournaments, he’s quietly carved out a solid career—and Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald has kept him on the radar for two consecutive cycles.
Eyes on the Ryder Cup, but Time Is Ticking
Speaking of the Ryder Cup, Smith’s hoping to land a spot on Team Europe for the 2025 match in New York. But he knows it’ll take something special.
“Realistically, I need a couple of wins and a big performance at the US Open to make it,” he said.
“Luke’s going to lean toward guys with Cup experience.
Those crowds in New York are going to be brutal.”
That word—brutal—seems to be a recurring theme, whether it’s the course at Oakmont or the heckling crowds in the States.
Preparing for Hecklers and High Stakes
Back at the Team Cup in January, Luke Donald experimented with some, let’s say, unorthodox training methods to prep players for the New York crowd—including a fake heckler and a loudspeaker blaring during tee shots.
“One guy kept yelling stuff at Tyrrell Hatton about looking Amish because of his beard,” Smith laughed. “It was actually quite funny.”
That week ended on a high note—Smith and McKibbin’s side won.
Since then, their careers have split: McKibbin off to LIV, and Smith still battling for his PGA shot.
But with the US Open looming, Smith stands on the brink of a massive breakthrough.
Whether it’s this week, this season, or the next time LIV causes a domino effect, he’s closer than ever to crossing that finish line.