Seamus Power earns a conditional PGA Tour card for 2026 after a strong performance at the RSM Classic!
Despite falling short of a full PGA Tour card by finishing outside the top 100 in the FedEx Fall standings, Power’s T7 finish at the RSM Classic secured him conditional status.
We break down Power’s final round, his impressive climb in the FedEx Cup standings, and what this means for his 2026 season.
Plus, we recap Sami Valimaki’s victory and his rise in the FedEx Cup standings, along with other notable performances from Max McGreevy and Ricky Castillo.
When a single tournament determines your entire future, every stroke suddenly feels heavier. And that’s exactly the kind of pressure Sheamus Power faced at the RSM Classic, where one strong week could secure his PGA tour destiny for 2026. But here’s where things get interesting. He didn’t quite get everything he hoped for. Yet, he didn’t walk away empty-handed, either. Sheamus Power came agonizingly close to keeping his full PGA Tour card for next season. Instead, he earned a conditional card after finishing in a tie for seventh at the RSM Classic in Georgia. A result that was both encouraging and frustrating at the same time. Power arrived at the event sitting at 129th in the FedEx fall standings. To keep a full PGA Tour card, he needed to jump all the way into the top 100. The top 125, however, receive conditional status, meaning they can typically enter roughly 20 tournaments in the upcoming season. Not perfect, but far better than falling outside the cutoff entirely. Thanks to his strong performance, the Waterford golfer moved up 12 spots, ending the week in a provisional 117th place, just enough for that conditional status. A final push filled with hope. Entering the final two rounds on the seaside course, Power knew exactly what was at stake. Beginning Sunday tied for eighth place, he needed to make a serious move to have any shot at clawing into the top 100. He started his final round brilliantly, rolling in a 10-ft birdie putt on the opening par 4. His steady rhythm continued with another birdie at the par 57th. A drop shot on the eighth meant he turned in 34, but he still kept himself in the hunt. Then came two more key birdies on holes 13 and 17. Power closed with an impressive 67, finishing the tournament at 18 under, five strokes behind Finland’s Sammy Valamaki, who ultimately lifted the trophy. And this is the part many people miss. Power began the month at 145th in the standings. So climbing nearly 30 spots in a few weeks is no small feat. The battle at the top. While Power was fighting to rescue his season, Sammy Valamaki was busy securing one of the biggest wins of his career. Valamaki broke free from a tie by birdying the par 515th. Pulling ahead of Max McGrevy, who had earlier fired an excellent 63 to reach 22 under. From there, Valamaki stayed calm, parring his way to the clubhouse with a smooth 66 and an impressive 23 under total. The victory didn’t just give him a trophy. It earned him a 2-year exemption on the PGA Tour and launched him 23 spots up the standings to 51st. That matters because players ranked 51 to 60 secure spots in the first two major signature events of 2026. McGrevy also had reason to celebrate his strong finish. not only earned him solo second, but also projected him to move to 60th. Right on the cusp of the signature event qualifying range, Ricky Castillo added another burst of excitement by posting a final round 62, surging into third place at 21 under. Still, he was projected to finish 102nd in points, just outside the allimportant top 100 cutoff for full status next year. A brutal result after such a brilliant round. A final question for you. These late season battles often raise one big debate among fans. Is it fair that a player can have a strong year overall and still miss full status because of a single bad stretch? Or does this pressure make the tour more exciting and competitive? What do you think? Should the PGA Tour rethink the cutoff system, or is the drama part of what keeps the sport alive? Share your take in the comments. I’m genuinely curious to see where people stand on this
