RSM Classic 2025: PGA Tour Cards on the Line.

During the previous year’s RSM Classic, Joel Dahmen successfully navigated a 6-foot par attempt on the concluding 18th hole, thereby ensuring his continued presence on the PGA Tour. This individual, a victor on the PGA Tour in the past, has garnered considerable recognition, arguably more so for his involvement in the Netflix series “Full Swing” than for his achievements on the golf course. He managed to secure his position within the critical threshold during a highly charged week on St. Simons Island.

The narrative resonated positively. Dahmen enjoys popularity within the golfing community, attributed to his affable demeanor. While his golfing performance might not have consistently reached exceptional levels, it has generally kept him in contention for maintaining his PGA Tour membership.

However, the outcome was far from certain.

Dahmen executed another 6-foot par conversion earlier in the tournament week, specifically on Friday, which allowed him to advance past the cut. He commenced his last round on the Seaside Course at Sea Island Golf Club on the latter nine holes, achieving a score of 30, largely due to an eagle resulting from a shot that found the hole directly. The sole visual record of this event originated from a shot link tower, and the video’s clarity was noticeably inferior, comparable to the perilous Bermuda grass areas known for causing distress among golfers.

Collectively, these accomplishments propelled Dahmen to a shared 35th position in the RSM Classic, securing the 124th spot in the FedEx Cup standings — narrowly within the top 125, all of whom are granted full PGA Tour status.

Presently, Dahmen finds himself in a comparable scenario at the RSM Classic, despite his current standing within the specified range. The 37-year-old occupies the 117th position in the FedEx Cup standings — a placement that would have been sufficient a year prior — and requires a significant performance this week to secure a place within the adjusted threshold. The requirement for the current season has been elevated to the top 100.

The PGA Tour is actively streamlining its membership structure by reducing the number of full-time PGA Tour cards, decreasing the number of Korn Ferry Tour graduates who receive PGA Tour cards, implementing smaller fields, and discontinuing Monday qualifiers. Consequently, the RSM Classic this week has assumed an even more competitive nature.

For individuals like Dahmen, accumulating 100 FedEx Cup points is essential to ascend into the top 100. Simultaneously, maintaining a position within the top 125 is necessary to secure conditional status, albeit with certain conditions.

2026 PGA Tour Priority Ranking

How playing opportunities are divided among those who earn exempt status. Those who meet categories in bold receive PGA Tour cards in 2026, while those in italics have conditional status.

While the primary focus at this juncture is appropriately directed towards the top 100 competitors and those securing full-time playing privileges, the subsequent cut-off point beyond this threshold holds equal significance. Competitors concluding the RSM Classic within the Nos. 101-110 range will find themselves in a more advantageous position compared to those finishing within the Nos. 111-125 range, even if both groups are relegated to conditional status.

For individuals like Dahmen, advancing from No. 117 to, for instance, No. 109 is a meaningful objective. It is more realistically attainable. Less external support is needed. The resulting number of starts in 2026 may be lower compared to 2025, but an upward movement would ensure more opportunities than maintaining his current position. 

Considering this context, let us examine the competitors at all of these critical points — Nos. 100, 110, and 125 — as the final PGA Tour event of the 2025 season commences.

Competitors on FedEx Cup limits