Only Rory McIlroy, Tom McKibbin and Shane Lowry finished the DP World Tour season ranked inside the top 114 who kept their playing rights.
But Purcell, who is fourth in the Challenge Tour rankings and looking to top them after this week’s Rolex Challenge Tour Grand Final, knows better than most what it takes to make the grade.
Set to graduate to the DP World Tour for the 2025 season, he believes it’s about taking advantage of limited opportunities and getting the breaks.
“I think it’s so easy to criticise systems and countries for not producing golfers,” said the Dubliner, who could finish as low as third this week and still top the rankings, providing points leader John Parry finishes no higher than 22nd in Mallorca.
“But I think anyone who’s been out here playing pro golf for a couple of years knows it’s not an easy craft, and sometimes you need a bit of luck.”
Purcell has won twice on the Challenge Tour this year to secure one of 20 cards and believes he’s made the most of his chances and good fortune.
“I’ve definitely had some [luck] this year, and if you can take advantage of it, it’ll help you,” he said. “But we’re getting closer. There are definitely more Irish boys out on Challenge Tour, which is great. So hopefully, we can get a few up on the Tour now.”
With Robin Williams and Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen already guaranteed two of the 20 cards available, the top 22 in the Road to Mallorca on Sunday will move on to the big leagues.
That means any player in the 46-man field can mathematically graduate, including 37th-ranked Dermot McElroy and 43rd-ranked Gary Hurley.
Hurley knows what it’s like to hold DP World Tour status, as do four of the 11-strong Irish contingent teeing it up at the Second Stage of the Qualifying School in Spain today.
Former card holders Jonathan Caldwell, Paul Dunne and Niall Kearney try their luck at Desert Springs in Almeria alongside Galway’s Liam Nolan while Dunne’s 2015 Walker Cup teammate Cormac Sharvin, another former card holder, plays Isla Canela in Huelva alongside Paul McBride, Mark Power and amateur Max Kennedy.
Ronan Mullarney is at Golf Las Pinaillas in Albacete, while Athenry amateur David Kitt plays at Fontanals Golf Club in Girona with Hermitage’s Rowan Lester hoping to make next week’s six-round Final Stage battle to finish in the 20 and ties at Lumine in Tarragona.
Lauren Walsh takes a break from her bid for an LPGA Tour card at the LET’s Aramco Team Series – Riyadh, while Leona Maguire was in action overnight at the TOTO Japan Classic in Otsu-shi as she bids to consolidate her place in the top 60 who qualify for the CME Group Tour Championship.
Aramco Team Series,
Live, Sky Sports Golf, 10am
Mallorca Challenge Tour,
Live, Sky Sports Mix, 2pm