7 pros in danger of losing their PGA Tour cards at the RSM Classic

For the first time in RSM Classic historical past, jobs are on the line at Sea Island this week.

While the RSM has been the last occasion of the PGA Tour calendar in all however one 12 months since 2015, that is the first when it really concludes a PGA Tour season. That makes the occasion the last likelihood for pros to safe their Tour cards for subsequent season by ending in the high 125 of the FedEx Cup Fall factors record.

For the previous 10 seasons, that demarcation occurred after the Wyndham Championship, the last occasion earlier than the FedEx Cup Playoffs. That gave those that didn’t make the high 125 and the playoffs an opportunity to go to the Korn Ferry Tour Finals the place 25 extra Tour cards had been up for grabs.

With the PGA Tour reverting again to a calendar-based schedule this 12 months and the introduction of the FedEx Cup Fall, the chase for subsequent 12 months’s Tour cards prolonged to the RSM this week. Those who end outdoors the high 125 could have simply the 5 cards (plus ties) obtainable at the PGA Tour Q-School’s last stage subsequent month.

But not everybody floating round the high 125 bubble is in equal jeopardy. Former Tour winners like Peter Malnati, Troy Merritt, Ryan Moore, C.T. Pan, Patton Kizzire, Ryan Palmer, Scott Piercy and Cameron Champ (who occupy spots 119, 123, 128, 129, 130, 131, 133 and 135, respectively, on the factors record) can play subsequent season beneath the Past Champion class, though that exemption is additional down the precedence rating than those that end inside the high 125.

Playing with none concern is Nico Echavarria, whose win at the Puerto Rico Open earlier this 12 months provides him full standing for each 2024 and ’25.

Also with a bit of a lifeline is Palmer, who has but to make use of his exemption from being in the high 50 of profession earnings on the PGA Tour (thirty third), though he might select to attend to make use of the one-time exemption. Moore and Jimmy Walker, amongst a number of others, performed out of this class in 2023.

So whereas that muddies the waters of who really is taking part in for their jobs this week in Georgia, listed below are the seven pros in danger of losing their cards.

7 pros in danger of losing their Tour cards at the RSM Classic

(Numbers symbolize FedEx Cup Fall rankings.)

121. Doug Ghim

Ghim has saved his card yearly since initially incomes it via the 2019 Korn Ferry Tour Finals. Only 12 factors separate Ghim from No. 126 on the factors record, however 5 gamers must go him this week for him to lose his card.

124. Andrew Novak

Novak appeared more likely to earn full standing on the PGA Tour for the second time in his profession after taking part in out of the 126-150 class final 12 months. The 2020 Korn Ferry Tour grad was one hundred and fifth on the factors record after the Wyndham Championship however has slipped to 124 upon lacking three of 5 cuts thus far this fall.

125. Carl Yuan

The 2022 Korn Ferry Tour factors chief had a disappointing rookie 12 months on the PGA Tour, ending the common season 151st on the factors record. But two high 10s in the fall have moved Yuan into the bubble place with one week to go.

126. Henrik Norlander

Losing out in the five-man playoff at the Sanderson Farms Championship may show pricey for the 36-year-old Norlander. He’s moved up from 141st after the common season because of the runner-up in Jackson, however he’ll want a strong week at Sea Island given he not has the possibility of the Korn Ferry Tour Finals, which he took benefit of final 12 months.

127. Maverick McNealy

McNealy may keep away from needing to pursue a medical extension after he took off 5 months for a shoulder harm. He missed the reduce in his return at the World Wide Technology Championship however could have another alternative to maneuver again into the high 125 this week after being in the high 90 earlier than his harm.

132. Zecheng Dou

Dou’s second residency on the PGA Tour was way more profitable than his first in 2018 when the then-21-year-old made simply 4 cuts in 21 begins. He’s proven flashes with a T5 at the Byron Nelson and a solo twelfth at the Sanderson, however he nonetheless has fallen from his common season standing of 123rd.

145. Harry Higgs

Higgs misplaced his full standing final 12 months and performed this 12 months as a conditional PGA Tour member. But he once more was unable to copy his success from his first two years on Tour when he had 13 top-25s and have become a fan favourite for his type and on-course antics. In 2023, Higgs had 18 missed-cuts in 30 begins, together with 4 of 5 this fall. He’ll have one last likelihood to both regain full standing for subsequent 12 months, or keep inside the high 150 for conditional standing.

Jack Hirsh

Golf.com Editor

Jack Hirsh is an assistant editor at GOLF. A Pennsylvania native, Jack is a 2020 graduate of Penn State University, incomes levels in broadcast journalism and political science. He was captain of his highschool golf group and lately returned to the program to function head coach. Jack additionally nonetheless *tries* to stay aggressive in native amateurs. Before becoming a member of GOLF, Jack spent two years working at a TV station in Bend, Oregon, primarily as a Multimedia Journalist/reporter, but additionally producing, anchoring and even presenting the climate. He will be reached at jack.hirsh@golf.com.