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 dramatic performances. Despite Castillo’s incredible 62 and Hodges’ clutch putts, neither could crack the top 100. Watch as emotions run high, with every shot and putt carrying the weight of their careers. From Castillo’s 32-foot birdie putt on No. 16 to Hodges’ heartbreaking miss on the 72nd hole, this video captures the raw intensity and skill of professional golf. Don’t miss the analysis of their rounds, the impact of key moments, and what’s next for these talented players as they navigate the challenges of the PGA TOUR.
Imagine pouring your heart and soul into a final round. Knowing your entire career hinges on every single putt. That’s exactly what Ricky Castillo and Lee Hajes faced at the RSM Classic. They delivered incredible performances, but in the end, their dreams of securing full PGA Tour cards for 2026 were agonizingly snatched away. But here’s where it gets controversial. Was it simply bad luck? or are there deeper issues with the current FedEx Cup fall system that need addressing? The RSM Classic, the FedEx Cup falls dramatic finale, delivered a nail-biting finish. While Sammy Valamaki celebrated a historic victory, becoming the first Finnish player to win on the PGA Tour, the Real Drama unfolded around the cut off point for the top 100 in the FedEx Cup standings. This coveted position guarantees full tour status for 2026. And the leaderboard was a roller coaster of emotions as players battled for every crucial birdie and desperately tried to avoid those dreaded bogeies on the challenging seaside course at Sea Island. Two players in particular emerged from outside the top 100 as serious contenders. Ricky Castillo, a rising star from the University of Florida and a PGA Tour rookie who earned his spot through the 2024 Korn Ferry Tour. and Andrew Putnham, a tour winner back in 2018, who ignited his campaign with an impressive opening round 61 at Sea Island. Both Castillo and Putnham came out firing on all cylinders. They birdied five of their first seven holes, rapidly climbing the leaderboard and positioning themselves within the projected top 100. Castillo, who started the week at number 135, knew he needed at least a three-way tie for second place to secure his tour card. He maintained his aggressive play, making the turn in a blistering 28. Putnham, however, faltered on the back nine, succumbing to two bogeies and a costly double bogey on the 14th hole, effectively ending his hopes of cracking the top 100. And this is the part most people miss. The mental fortitude required to battle back from setbacks like Putnhams is immense, showcasing the true grit of these professional golfers. Castillo with his brother Derek as his caddy even threatened Valamaki’s lead at one point. However, a heart-wrenching missed three foot par putt on the par 312 brought him back to 19 under. Honestly, 6 months ago, if I miss that, Castillo reflected after his round, 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 quote perfectly encapsulates the mental game of golf and the constant pressure these players face. Showing remarkable resilience, Castillo bounced back with consecutive birdies on the 15th and 16th holes, including a stunning 32- ft putt on the 16th. He finished with two pars, carding a final round 62 and reaching 21 under, tying with fellow Oklahoma Max McGrevy for a share of second place. Walking off the course, Castillo was projected to be 95th in the standings, anxiously hoping his score would be enough to secure that crucial T2 finish. But McGrevy had other plans. In a dramatic turn of events, he sank a clutch, must make putt on the final hole, tying for the lead. and in doing so bumping Castillo into solo third place, devastatingly pushing him outside the FedEx Cup top 100. Castillo will now have conditional status for the 2026 season. He also has another avenue to earn his tour card at the final stage of PGA Tour Q School presented by Cornferry held at TPC Sawrass Dies Valley course from December 11th to 14th. He expressed confidence in his chances at Q School, highlighting the valuable lessons he learned navigating his first full season on the PGA Tour. “I feel like everything’s been really close for a long time,” Castillo said. “I missed eight cuts by one shot this year. I feel like I learned a lot from playing with Scotty Sheffller in May, just how his mindset is. I mean, that’s why he’s the best player in the world and he’s constantly the best player in the world. This shows the importance of learning from the best in the game, even in defeat. The unfortunate Mr. 101 was Lee Hodes, hailing from Alabama. Entering the tournament at number 122 and reaching the end of his 2-year winners exemption from his breakthrough victory at the 2023 3M Open, Hajes was acutely aware that he needed a stellar performance to secure full tour status. Starting the day four shots behind the lead, he surged into contention with a front 933 and added several clutch birdie putts on the back nine. Heading to the final hole projected at number 102, he executed a brilliant approach shot, leaving himself just 10 ft for a birdie putt that would propel him into the top 100. Haj’s putt agonizingly missed by inches, eliciting a visibly gutting reaction. He signed for his third 66 of the week, finishing in a share of fourth place. I made so many putts out there today of distance, Hajes said after his round. To miss one on number 18 and say it’s that fault that’s unfair to my putter. Haj’s journey this year has been particularly challenging. He cracked a rib in February at the Cognizant Classic at the Palm Beaches, forcing him to miss several events and then endured a string of five consecutive missed cuts starting in April. Now fully recovered and back in form, this marked his first top 20 finish since June. This underscores the physical demands and potential setbacks that professional golfers face, adding another layer of complexity to their pursuit of success. Doug Gim, a Texas Longhorn alumnist who earned his tour card in 2018 and has maintained his status ever since, entered the week at number 125. He tied the seaside course record on Thursday and carded a final round 66 to finish T7 and number 113. It stings, Gim admitted after his round. 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. Who knows? Garrick Higo won early in the season this year on conditional status at the Corales Pontakana Championship and ended up playing on this tour. Anyway, two other established PGA Tour players, Bo Hustler and Matt Cooer, also fell short of cracking the top 100 bubble. Hustler finished at 9 under, tied for 64th place and number 104 in the FedEx Cup. Coocher T67 at 8 under, and number 118 in the FedEx Cup. In a contrasting outcome, Japan’s Tukumi Kanaya, who missed the cut on Friday at the RSM Classic and had to endure a nerve-wracking waiting game, became the last player who wasn’t already exempt to secure his tour card, landing at number 99 in the FedEx Cup standings. So, what do you think? Is the current FedEx Cup fall system fair to all players, or does it need adjustments to better reward consistent performance throughout the year? Should conditional status be more valuable? And more broadly speaking, do you feel the current system places too much emphasis on the final few events, potentially overshadowing the achievements of players who performed well earlier in the season? We’d love to hear your thoughts and opinions in the comments below.
