These notables missed the cut at the 2024 RSM Classic
The final 36-hole cut of the 2024 PGA Tour season was a survival of the fittest test on Friday at Sea Island Resort in St. Simons Island, Georgia.
The wind blew something fierce and the temperature dipped into the 50s at the 2024 RSM Classic. Golfers on the Plantation Course held a big advantage over players on the Seaside Course, which is more exposed to the elements. At the Plantation, which plays to a par of 72, the scoring average in the second round was 70.578 while Seaside, where par is 70, played to an average of 73.213.
When it was all said and done, 66 players shot 1-under 141 or better to make it to the weekend and keep their chances alive to hoist a trophy on Sunday – or at least improve their standing in the FedEx Cup Fall points list.
RSM Classic: Leaderboard | Photos
Joel Dahmen was among the survivors. Entering the week at No. 126 on the points list and with his job on the line, he rallied late to shoot 2-under 68 at Seaside and make the cut on the number. He’s still on the outside looking in to make the top 125 – projected No. 127 – but at least he’ll have two more rounds to claw his way up the leaderboard.
But others were blown away in the wind and their season is over prematurely. Let’s take a look at some of the notables whose off-season officially is underway.
Zach Johnson of the United States looks on from the 18th hole during the second round of The RSM Classic 2024 on the Seaside course at Sea Island Resort. (Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
For the third straight season, Johnson failed to finish in the top 125 in the FedEx Cup. The St. Simons Island resident missed the cut at his only two starts in the fall. He opened with 2-under 70 on Thursday at Plantation Course but hit just eight greens on Friday at Seaside Course and was just 6 of 10 in scrambling. He shot 2-over 72, which was one stroke too many.
Sepp Straka of Austria looks on from the 18th green during the second round of The RSM Classic 2024 on the Seaside course at Sea Island Resort. (Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Straka is a top 50 guy so he had nothing to lose this week. He was playing for the first time since the Tour Championship in August and showed a little rust on Thursday with an even-par 72 at Plantation Course. He looked to be in good shape to make the cut until he made two late bogeys at Nos. 16 and 17 and failed to birdie the last.
Gary Woodland of the United States watches his shot on the seventh hole during the first round of The RSM Classic 2024 on the Seaside Course at Sea Island Resort on November 21, 2024 in St Simons Island, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Woodland battled back on Friday with a 68 but the damage was done in the first round when he shot 74 at Seaside Course. Woodland made three of five cuts during the fall, including a T-9 in Las Vegas, but it wasn’t enough to get him into the top 125. Woodland struggled with his driver this week, hitting seven fairways on Thursday and nine on Friday.
Wesley Bryan of the United States plays his shot from the second tee during the second round of The RSM Classic 2024 on the Seaside course at Sea Island Resort. (Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Bryan entered the week as the Bubble Boy at No. 125 and his bubble popped on Friday. He was right on the cut number after a bogey at 13 but the worst was still to come — he made a double at 14 and signed for 3-over 73 at Seaside Course. Bryan had made the cut at all five of his starts during the fall portion of the schedule.
Zac Blair of the United States plays a shot on the ninth hole at Sea Island Resort Seaside Course. (Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)
Blair’s battle to make the top 125 took a hit as he shot 72-71 and missed the cut. Blair bogeyed three of his first five holes on Friday at the Seaside Course and only managed one birdie coming home. That wasn’t enough. He’s projected at No. 125 and will have to wait and hope that he holds on to a fully exempt card for 2025.
Rafael Campos of Puerto Rico plays a shot from a bunker on the 18th hole during the first round of The RSM Classic 2024 on the Plantation Course at Sea Island Resort. (Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
One week after his dramatic maiden victory on the PGA Tour at the Bermuda Championship, Campos, who became a dad last Monday, shot 71-73. It marked his 14th missed cut in his 16 starts but thanks to his victory, he can head home to Puerto Rico with full status for the next two years and plenty of money in his bank account to pay for diapers.
Keith Mitchell of the United States plays his shot from the second tee at Sea Island Resort Seaside Course. (Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)
Mitchell was leading the tournament at 7 under through his first 12 holes at the Plantation Course but then it all fell apart. Mitchell signed for 5-under 67 on Thursday but on Friday, he made two doubles in the first five holes and went out in 40. It didn’t get any better on the back nine. He signed for 78 and his fourth straight missed cut of the fall.
Justin Lower of the United States plays his shot from the ninth tee at Sea Island Resort Seaside Course. (Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)
Lower had played in the last group the last two Sundays on Tour but that streak is over. Lower opened with 75 on Thursday at Seaside Course and missed the cut. But he finished T-2 and T-5 the last two weeks and looks on the verge of a breakthrough win.
Matt Kuchar of the United States looks on from the ninth green during the second round of The RSM Classic 2024 on the Seaside course at Sea Island Resort. (Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Kuchar is a former member of the Sea Island Mafia but he didn’t have good mojo this week. He shot 71-75 to miss the cut. Kuchar didn’t make a birdie until the 14th hole on Friday and by that time he had made two doubles. After a slow start to his season, he made the cut in six of his final eight starts and secured his card for next season.
Matt McCarty of the United States plays a shot from a bunker on the fourth hole during the first round of The RSM Classic 2024 on the Seaside Course at Sea Island Resort. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
McCarty was one of the big winners of the fall, notching his first Tour title at the Black Desert Championship in just his second start after his promotion from the Korn Ferry Tour. He missed the cut in Las Vegas and failed to make the weekend at the RSM Classic too, shooting 71-75. He struggled on Friday at the easier Plantation Course.