RSM Classic PGA TOUR FedExCup bubble golf drama Lee Hodges Zac Blair Patrick Rodgers Doug Ghim John Pak stakes high Sea Island final round
Dive into the intense final round at The RSM Classic where the FedExCup Fall bubble has never been tighter. With Sami Valimaki leading, these five players are battling for their PGA TOUR careers.
Lee Hodges: From struggles to sub-66 rounds, the Alabama native needs a top finish to secure his card after a tough season.
Zac Blair: Haunted by past bubble misses, the Utah golfer must win to avoid another heartbreak.
Patrick Rodgers: Stanford star aiming for his first win after playoff loss in 2018, now in contention for victory and Next 10.
Doug Ghim: Texas Longhorn fighting from the bubble, needing a strong finish to lock up status.
John Pak: Rookie with promise but poor starts, relying on new putting coach for a miracle win.
Watch highlights, quotes, and analysis as these golfers tee off on Sunday for glory or elimination. PGA TOUR golf action at its finest!
Imagine your entire career hanging by a thread, all decided in a single round of golf. That’s the intense pressure cooker facing several players at the RSM Classic. As the FedEx Cup fall season draws to a dramatic close with only 18 holes left, the stakes couldn’t be higher. And dreams are about to be made or shattered. Sammy Valamaki from Finland currently holds the lead at an impressive 19 under par after three rounds at Sea Island. But a mere 12 golfers are within striking distance, just four shots behind. The real drama, however, centers around those players teetering on the edge of the top 100 in the FedEx Cup standings. Why is that top 100 number so important? Because securing a spot inside it guarantees them full PGA Tour status for the upcoming season. For those on the outside looking in, Sunday at the RSM Classic represents their last chance to save their season and potentially their careers. Let’s take a closer look at five players facing immense pressure as they head into the final round. One, Lee Hajes. A second chance at stardom. Just two short years ago, Lee Hodes was riding high. He clinched his first PGA Tour victory at the 3M Open and earned a coveted spot in the FedEx Cup playoffs. But this year has been a different story. Hajes arrived at the RSM Classic in a precarious position, sitting at number 122 in the FedEx Cup standings. To secure his tour card, he needs at least a three-way tie for fourth place. A tall order indeed. This situation is the culmination of a season filled with struggles, including a disheartening nine missed cuts in 24 starts. But here’s where it gets controversial. Some might argue that Haj’s past success should afford him some leniency, while others believe the FedEx Cup standings should be the sole determinant of status. However, this week has seen a resurgence. The 30-year-old University of Alabama alum has been on fire, carding three impressive sub 66 rounds at Sea Island, placing him at 15 under heading into Sunday. Can he keep the momentum going when it matters most? Reflecting on his season, Hajes said after round three, “When you’re shooting as high as you feel like you can shoot every day, you lose a little bit of confidence.” “Man, I just figured I’ve played at Sea Island so many times through college and junior golf and stuff.” I was like, “What a great course just to kind of let it rip this week.” He added, “I’m from Ardmore, Alabama, and I’m playing on the PGA Tour for 4 years and have a win. Like, no one ever would have given me that when I was 10 years old. I want to obviously keep it going. I’d love to add more to my resume, but it’s been an awesome ride so far, and I think I don’t think it’s over yet, but I’m excited to see where it goes. Two, Zack Blair, haunted by the bubble. Zack Blair knows the FedEx Cup bubble all too well. In fact, he’s become intimately familiar with the heartbreak of missing out on tour status by the narrowest of margins. The Utah native has twice been the odd man out, finishing at number 126 in the 2017 and 2024 FedEx Cup standings. Both years when 125 was the crucial threshold. This is the kind of thing that can haunt a player. “Yeah, it sucks,” Blair candidly admitted on Saturday at the RSM Classic, reflecting on those agonizing close calls. Blair missed the cut at Sea Island in 2024, adding insult to injury. But this year, he’s in contention, sitting at 16 under after impressive back-to-back 64s, just three shots off the lead heading into the final round. And this is the part most people miss because at number 154 in the FedEx Cup standings, the only outcome that will guarantee him status on Sunday is an outright win. Anything less and he’s back to Q school or relying on sponsor exemptions. He’s coming off a strong run of fall events, including AT20 at the Bank of Utah Championship, Monday qualifying and making the cut at the Worldwide Technology Championship, and AT9 at last week’s Butterfield Bermuda Championship. I know that I just need to go have my best round of the year or the season tomorrow, said Blair. It’s pretty easy when that’s kind of all that you can do. Three. Patrick Rogers, chasing redemption. Patrick Rogers has a history at the RSM Classic, but it’s not a happy one. In 2018, he lost in a playoff to Charles Howell 3. As a promising Stanford alum, who once broke Tiger Woods scoring record and tied his victory record at the school, Rogers carried immense expectations. However, that potential has yet to fully materialize into a PGA Tour victory. In fact, Rogers is tied for the second most top 10 finishes 29 without a win on tour, a statistic he’s surely eager to change. 6 years later, he finds himself in a familiar position. Contending at Sea Island, he’ll be playing in the final group on Sunday after following up a blistering second round 62 with a solid third round 68, placing him at 17 under. I’m trying to bring the best version of myself to the golf course each and every day, said Rogers after his round. Each day feels like you’re asked a different question of you. So, it’s just kind of having the wisdom to know what to do in each situation, and I’m excited for a new one tomorrow. Rogers entered the week comfortably inside the top 100 at number 63 and is now projected to move into the AON next 10, which would secure him starts in the first two signature events of the year. As a competitor, I want to play against the best players. He said, “That’s what I’m here for. That’s the objective, and hopefully I can add a trophy along the way.” Four. Doug Gim, a tour staple on the brink. With only 100 tour cards available through the FedEx Cup fall, even established players are feeling the pressure. Doug Gim, a former Texas Longhorn and a familiar face on tour, is one of them. He entered the week at number 125 in the standings, meaning he needs at least a solo fourth place finish to have a reasonable chance of securing his tour card. He’s currently five shots off the lead and hoping to break away from the pack. Obviously, when you’re in the situation a lot of us are going into tomorrow, you can feel sorry for yourself. You can feel frustrated, said Gim after his third round 67. You can be like, it sucks that it’s only 100 cards this year or it’s so windy here or whatever. You know, I can only control what I can control. I know that I’m tough enough. Five. John Pac, a rookie desperate for a break. John Pac arrived on the PGA Tour with considerable hype. The 2021 PGA Tour University number one and former Florida State standout earned his tour card through the 2024 Korn Ferry Tour. However, his rookie season has been a disappointment, marked by 13 missed cuts in 25 starts and only two top 25 finishes. At number 168 in the FedEx Cup standings, Pack like Blair needs a victory to secure full 2026 status. The 26-year-old New Jersey native tied for the low round of the day with a 64 on Saturday at the Seaside course and is also working with a new putting coach, Eric Dietrich, in an effort to turn things around. I’ve got a nothing to lose mentality this week, said Pack. I haven’t had the best year, but yeah, it’s some of the best ball striking I’ve had in a very long time. So, just a couple more putts to fall and I think we can have a good day tomorrow. So, as these five players and many others face the ultimate test at the RSM Classic, who do you think will rise to the occasion? Will experience prevail, or will a newcomer steal the spotlight? Do you think the FedEx Cup system is truly fair to players who have had a slump year, or should past performance be given more weight? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
