Witness the thrilling final round of The RSM Classic as Ricky Castillo and Lee Hodges fight to secure their PGA TOUR cards. Castillo, a PGA TOUR rookie, and Hodges, battling to maintain his status, both delivered stunning performances but fell just short. Watch as Castillo sinks a 32-foot birdie putt on No. 16 and Hodges narrowly misses a crucial putt on the 72nd hole. Relive the emotions, the highs, and the lows of their journeys, and see how Max McGreevy’s clutch putt on No. 18 changed everything. Don’t miss this gripping tale of perseverance and determination in the world of professional golf.
Keywords: PGA TOUR, The RSM Classic, Ricky Castillo, Lee Hodges, Max McGreevy, golf highlights, final round drama, TOUR card chase, FedExCup Fall, Sea Island, Sami Valimaki, Andrew Putnam, Q-School, golf emotions, professional golf.
The RSM Classic, the final event of the FedEx Cup 4, was a thrilling battle for PGA Tour cards, and it delivered an exciting conclusion. Two golfers, Ricky Castillo and Lee Hodges, found themselves in a tense situation, fighting to secure their tour cards. Castillo, a PGA Tour rookie and University of Florida standout, had earned his card through the Cornferry Tour in 2024. He started the final round with a bang, birding five of his first seven holes and kept the momentum going on the front nine. With his brother Derek on the bag, Castillo posed a serious threat to the leader, Sami Valamaki, until a crucial three-foot par putt on the 12th hole slipped by, bringing him back to 19 under. 6 months ago, I might have crumbled under that pressure, Castillo reflected. But I’ve grown so much mentally and emotionally. I was able to shake it off and focus on the next shot, and I’m proud of how I handled it. Castillo’s resilience paid off with back-to-back birdies on holes 15 and 16, including a remarkable 32 ft putt on the 16th. He finished with a strong 62, tying him for second place at 21 under. But here’s where it gets controversial. Castillo’s score wasn’t enough to secure his spot in the FedEx Cup top 100. Max McGrevy with a clutch putt on the final hole bumped Castillo down to solo third place, leaving him with conditional status for the 2026 season. And this is the part most people miss. Castillo still has a chance to earn his tour card at the final stage of PGA Tour Q School, an opportunity he’s confident about, having learned valuable lessons from his first full season on the PGA Tour. I feel like I’ve been so close for so long, Castillo said. I missed eight cuts by just one shot this year. Playing with Scotty Sheffller in May taught me a lot about mindset. He’s the best player in the world for a reason. Meanwhile, Lee Hodges, starting the tournament at number 122, knew he needed a strong performance to secure full status. He played a solid round, including a front 933 and some clutch birdie putts on the back nine. Heading into the final hole, he had a chance to crack the top 100 with a 10-ft birdie putt, but it slipped by, leaving him just outside the bubble at number 102. I made some great putts today, Hodges said. To blame my putter for that one would be unfair. Hodges, who suffered a rib injury earlier in the year, is now healthy and back in form, but his first top 20 finish since June wasn’t enough to secure his tour card. Other notable players like Doug Gim, Bo Hustler, and Matt Kachar also fell short of the top 100 bubble. Takumi Kaya from Japan was the last player to secure his tour card despite missing the cut at the RSM Classic. So, what do you think? Is there a silver lining for Castillo and Hodges? Can they bounce back and earn their tour cards? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
