Half the fun is over, half the fun is still to come at the RSM Classic at Sea Island Resort in St. Simons Island, Georgia.
The final of eight fall events as well as the last official event of the 2024 season means jobs are on the line this week. Callum Tarren, who is T-9 and projected No. 170, is resigned to the fact that he’s going to need to do something very special to keep his job for next season.
“I know I need an incredible week to even sniff being a PGA Tour member next year, so I’ve kind of accepted my fate, but maybe it’s freed me up to play some free golf, which I haven’t been for a while,” he said. “So I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing and see what happens on Sunday.”
Joel Dahmen entered the week at No. 124 in the FedEx Cup Fall and was on the wrong side of the cutline until he made birdies at Nos. 14 and 16 to sit on the cutline. At 18, he lagged his 40-foot birdie putt and left himself a 5-foot knee-knocker. Miss it and he’d miss the cut and his chances of finishing in the top 125 would be slim and none. Dahmen made the clutch putt and survived the cut. He’s projected to drop out of the 125 but he’s got two more rounds to charge up the leaderboard and that’s all that mattered on Friday.
RSM Classic: Leaderboard | Photos
“I still got more to write this weekend, for sure, but without having the opportunity to play this weekend, my story would be a lot shorter this year I would say,” he said. “There’s still work to do. It wasn’t the game winner, it was like the half court shot to get us like at halftime.”
Dahmen summed up the pressure he’s been dealing with as he attempts to secure full status for next season.
“Once I missed the cut in Bermuda last week, stress has been high. You don’t sleep as well,” he said. “It’s like you’re sleeping on the lead of a major every night. That’s kind of what it feels like, but a little more stressful than that.”
The top 125 isn’t the only bubble we’re watching this weekend. Here’s a closer look at who’s in and who’s out for other levels of status.
Nico Echavarria of Colombia plays a shot on the seventh hole during the first round of The RSM Classic 2024 on the Seaside Course at Sea Island Resort. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Nos. 1-50 in the FedEx Cup standings through the Tour Championship locked in their positions and guaranteed entry into all of the Signature events next season. Nos. 51 and beyond carry their FedEx Cup points into the Fall; Nos. 51-60 through the FedEx Cup Fall will qualify for two signature events in 2025 via the Aon Next 10: AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and The Genesis Invitational, both to be held in February.
Who’s in? Two players are currently projected to move into Nos. 51-60. Patrick Fishburn, the 36-hole leader, is projected to jump from No. 87 to 56 and Kevin Yu, currently T-9 is projected to leapfrog from No. 61 to 59.
Ben Griffin made the cut on the number and is projected to hang on at No. 57, while Nico Echavarria is currently T-6 and projected at No. 58. The last man on the right side of the cut off is currently projected to be Tom Kim, who isn’t in the field.
Justin Rose lines up a putt on day one of the 2024 Hong Kong Open at Fanling Golf Club in Hong Kong. (Peter Parks/AFP via Getty Images)
With Fishburn and Yu currently projected to climb into the Nos. 51-60 that means two pros are out. Neither of those players are in the field this week and left their chances up to others. Nick Taylor is projected to drop from No. 58 to being the odd man out at 61 while Justin Rose, who started the week on the hot seat at No. 60 is projected to finish at No. 62.
Daniel Berger of the United States watches his shot from the fourth tee during the first round of the Butterfield Bermuda Championship 2024 at Port Royal Golf Course. (Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Making the Top 125 is a big deal and means a player will be exempt into all full-field events and the Players Championship next season.
Currently projected to move into the Top 125 are Michael Thorbjornsen, who is T-4, which has him projected to rise from No. 138 to 119, and Daniel Berger, who is T-17 and projected to move from No. 127 to 120. Asked how much he’s thinking about the top 125, Thorbjornsen said, “I’m not thinking about it at all, I’m just trying to play some good golf this weekend.”
Dahmen, projected No. 126, Henrik Norlander, projected No. 128, and Hayden Springer, projected No. 129, all made the cut on the number at 1-under 141. They’re bubbles are projected to burst but they still have two rounds to change their fortunes.
Wesley Bryan of the United States lines up a putt on the 18th green during the second round of The RSM Classic 2024 on the Seaside Course at Sea Island Resort. Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Wesley Bryan entered the week as the proverbial Bubble Boy at No. 125 but he missed the cut and his bubble likely has burst. Data Golf has Bryan’s chances of finishing 125th at just 1 percent.
He’s not the only one fighting for a Tour card who succumbed to the pressure.
Sam Ryder, projected No. 124, and Zac Blair, projected No. 125, both missed the cut and will have to hope they hang on over the weekend. Data Golf has Blair with a 50 percent chance of hanging on. One player who already knows his fate is Dylan Wu. He was projected to move into the top 125 after an opening-round 68 but ballooned to 78 on Friday and missed the cut. He’s projected at No. 134. Nos. 126-150 will earn full Korn Ferry Tour status and conditional status on Tour next season.
Bud Cauley of the United States gestures on the eighth hole during the second round of The RSM Classic 2024 on the Plantation Course at Sea Island Resort. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Conditional status is better than no status at all. Joseph Bramlett made the cut and should be safe — he’s projected No. 147. But Trace Crowe (148) and Troy Merritt (149) both missed the cut and will have to wait and see if they hang on. Chesson Hadley wasn’t in the field this week and is projected at No. 150.
Ryan Moore entered the week at No. 150 but missed the cut and is currently projected No. 151.
Those with the best shot of climbing inside the top 150 include Bud Cauley, who sits at 4 under in T-24 and projected at No. 152. Don’t count out Kevin Chappell, who is 3 under and T-32 and projected at No. 154.
William McGirt of the United States looks on from the ninth green during the second round of The RSM Classic 2024 on the Plantation Course at Sea Island Resort. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
The top 200 bubble is critical for getting into final stage of Q-School and a chance to win back one of five cards and earn at least some status on the Korn Ferry Tour. Will McGirt made the cut and is currently projected at No. 199. Cody Gribble missed the cut but is projected to hang on to the No. 200 spot. Blaine Hale Jr. (201), Richy Werenski (204) and Bill Haas (205) all missed the cut.
