7 professionals at risk of shedding their PGA Tour playing cards on the RSM Traditional this week

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

Whereas the RSM has been the ultimate occasion of the PGA Tour calendar in all however one yr since 2015, that is the primary when it really concludes a PGA Tour season. That makes the occasion the ultimate probability for professionals to safe their Tour playing cards for subsequent season by ending within the high 125 of the FedEx Cup Fall factors record.

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

With the PGA Tour reverting again to a calendar-based schedule this yr and the introduction of the FedEx Cup Fall, the chase for subsequent yr’s Tour playing cards prolonged to the RSM this week. Those that end outdoors the highest 125 may have simply the 5 playing cards (plus ties) accessible on the PGA Tour Q-College’s remaining stage subsequent month.

However not everybody floating across 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 Previous Champion class, though that exemption is additional down the precedence rating than those that end inside the highest 125.

Taking part in with none worry is Nico Echavarria, whose win on the Puerto Rico Open earlier this yr provides him full standing for each 2024 and ’25.

Additionally with a little bit of a lifeline is Palmer, who has but to make use of his exemption from being within 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 his or her jobs this week in Georgia, listed here are the seven professionals at risk of shedding their playing cards.

7 professionals at risk of shedding their Tour playing cards on the RSM Traditional

(Numbers symbolize FedEx Cup Fall rankings.)

121. Doug Ghim

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

124. Andrew Novak

Novak regarded 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 yr. 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 points leader had a disappointing rookie yr on the PGA Tour, ending the common season 151st on the factors record. However two high 10s within the fall have moved Yuan into the bubble place with one week to go.

126. Henrik Norlander

Shedding out within the five-man playoff on 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 stable week at Sea Island given he now not has the choice of the Korn Ferry Tour Finals, which he took benefit of final yr.

127. Maverick McNealy

McNealy could avoid needing to pursue a medical extension after he took off 5 months for a shoulder damage. He missed the reduce in his return on the World Vast Expertise Championship however may have yet one more alternative to maneuver again into the highest 125 this week after being within the high 90 earlier than his damage.

132. Zecheng Dou

Dou’s second residency on the PGA Tour was rather 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 on the Byron Nelson and a solo twelfth on the Sanderson, however he nonetheless has fallen from his common season standing of 123rd.

145. Harry Higgs

Higgs misplaced his full standing final yr and performed this yr as a conditional PGA Tour member. However he once more was unable to replicate his success from his first two years on Tour when he had 13 top-25s and have become a fan favourite for his fashion 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 remaining probability to both regain full standing for subsequent yr, or keep throughout 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 College, incomes levels in broadcast journalism and political science. He was captain of his highschool golf group and not too long ago returned to this system to function head coach. Jack additionally nonetheless *tries* to stay aggressive in native amateurs. Earlier than becoming a member of GOLF, Jack spent two years working at a TV station in Bend, Oregon, primarily as a Multimedia Journalist/reporter, but in addition producing, anchoring and even presenting the climate. He may be reached at [email protected].