The RSM Classic delivered an intense battle for PGA TOUR cards. Ricky Castillo, a PGA TOUR rookie, and Andrew Putnam charged into contention on the final day. Castillo, with his brother on the bag, played a stellar front nine, but a missed par putt on the 12th brought him back to 19-under. He regrouped with birdies on 15 and 16, finishing with a 62 and a share of second place. However, Max McGreevy’s birdie on the final hole pushed Castillo out of the top 100. Lee Hodges, starting at No. 122, also had a chance but narrowly missed a birdie putt on the 72nd hole. Doug Ghim, Beau Hossler, and Matt Kuchar also fell short. Takumi Kanaya secured the last spot at No. 99. Watch the emotional rollercoaster of these golfers’ final rounds.
Imagine pouring your heart and soul into a final round, playing the best golf of your life, only to see your PGA Tour dream slip through your fingers by the narrowest of margins. That’s exactly what happened at the RSM Classic, the dramatic conclusion to the FedEx Cup fall season. While Sammy Valamaki celebrated a historic victory for Finland, the real nail-biting drama unfolded around the coveted top 100 spots, guaranteeing full PGA Tour status for 2026. Two players, Ricky Castillo and Lee Hajes, emerged as central figures in this highstakes battle. Castillo, a rising star from the University of Florida who earned his tour card through the 2024 Kornferryy Tour, and Hajes, a tour winner back in 2018. Both needed a stellar performance to secure their future. Both players came out firing with an incredible display of birdies early in their final rounds. Castillo and Hodgeges surged up the leaderboard and within striking distance of the projected top 100. Castillo, starting the week at number 135, knew he needed at least a three-way tie for second to guarantee his card, and he played like it, tearing up the front nine with a blistering 28. Hajes, fueled by a first round 61, was also on a mission. But here’s where it gets controversial. Maintaining that momentum under immense pressure is a different beast entirely. Unfortunately for Hajes, the back nine proved to be his undoing. bogeies and a costly double bogey on the 14th hole effectively ended his hopes. Castillo with his brother Derek Cattying kept the pressure on Valamaki, the leader, but a missed three-foot par putt on the tricky par 312th brought him back to 19 under. Honestly, 6 months ago, if I miss that, Castillo reflected, I probably end up 16 or 17 under. I’ve just grown so much mentally and emotionally that I was able to totally forget about it and focus on the next shot and end up playing two under coming in. I’m just proud of myself for that. This highlights the mental fortitude required to compete at the highest level. Castillo bounced back admirably, carding back-to-back birdies on the 15th and 16th, including a remarkable 32- ft putt on the 16th. He finished his round with two pars, posting a final score of 62 and 21 under, tying for second place with Max McGrevy. As he walked off the course, projections placed him at 95th in the FedEx Cup standings, anxiously awaiting to see if his score would hold. But McGrevy had other plans. In a moment of sheer drama, McGrevy drained a clutch putt on the 18th green, snatching a share of the lead. And this is the part most people miss. That single putt didn’t just win McGrevy a higher finish. It bumped Castillo into solo third place, cruy pushing him outside the top 100 and jeopardizing his tour status. So, what does the future hold for Ricky Castillo? He’ll have conditional status for the 2026 season, granting him some opportunities to play. More importantly, he’ll have a chance to earn his tour card outright at the final stage of PGA Tour Q School presented by Korn Ferry in December. Castillo expressed confidence in his ability to perform well at Q School, citing the valuable lessons learned during his first full season on the PGA Tour. He even mentioned observing Scotty Sheffller’s mindset, acknowledging that it’s a key factor in Sheffller’s consistent success. I feel like everything’s been really close for a long time, Castillo said. I missed eight cuts by one shot this year. Meanwhile, Lee Hajes found himself in the eneniable position of Mr. 101. Entering the tournament at number 122 and reaching the end of his 2-year winners exemption from his 2023 3M Open victory, Hajes knew this was his last chance to secure full status. He started the final day four shots off the lead and quickly moved into contention with a strong front nine. Clutch birdie putts on the back nine kept his hopes alive. Standing on the 18th T projected at number 102 in the standings, Hodes needed a birdie to crack the top 100. His approach shot landed within 10 ft, setting up a hearttoppping putt, but the ball lipped out by inches, eliciting a visibly gutting reaction. He finished with a 66, his third of the week, and a share of fourth place, but the dream of securing his cards slipped away. “I made so many putts out there today of distance,” Hajes said, clearly disappointed to miss one on number 18, and say it’s that fault that’s unfair to my putter. Haj’s season was further complicated by a rib injury sustained in February, which sidelined him for several events. He then endured a string of missed cuts. This strong performance at the RSM Classic marked his first top 20 finish since June, signaling a return to form. Doug Gim, another player on the bubble, also came up short. Despite tying the seaside course record on Thursday and carting a final round 66, he finished T7 and number 113 in the FedEx Cup standings. It stings, Gim admitted. I feel like I’ve had my opportunities this week and the entire season. I have the power to make any year a good year. He pointed to Garrick Higgo’s early season win on conditional status as an example of how fortunes can change quickly. Long-standing PGA Tour players Bo Hustler and Matt Cooer also failed to secure their spots within the top 100. Hustler finished at 9 under in number 104 in the FedEx Cup, while Cooer finished T67 and number 118. In a contrasting story, Takumi Kana of Japan, who missed the cut at the RSM Classic, had to endure a tense waiting game. Ultimately, he became the last player not already exempt to secure his tour card, clinging to the 99th spot in the FedEx Cup standings. The RSM Classic provided a thrilling and emotional end to the FedEx Cup fall season. The stories of Castillo, Hajes, and others highlight the intense pressure and the fine margins that separate success and disappointment on the PGA Tour. Now, a question for you. Do you think the current system for securing PGA Tour cards is fair, or should there be changes to give players more opportunities to retain their status? What defines a successful season for a professional golfer beyond just winning? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
