Emotions ran high at Sea Island Resort as Joel Dahmen sank what might’ve been the most nerve-wracking putt of his career. That 5½-foot par putt didn’t just keep him playing through the weekend – it kept his dreams of staying on the PGA Tour alive.
“It was a great putt. I was very nervous,” Dahmen said, his voice shaking a bit after the round. “But there’s still work to do.”
Name
Events
Top 10
Money
Joel Dahmen
207
23
$12,248,632
He’s right about that. The pressure’s far from over at the RSM Classic, the final tournament of the fall season.
Dahmen entered the week hanging by a thread at No. 124 in the FedExCup standings. Only the top 125 players keep their Tour cards for 2025, and right now he’s projected to slip to spot 126.
But at least he’s still got a shot.
His caddie, Geno Bonnalie, was waiting with a celebratory drink after those intense final moments. “Here,” Bonnalie said, “you get one today.”
It’s been a rough year for Dahmen. Missing the cut last week in Bermuda left him with just this final chance to save his season. The stress hasn’t just gotten to him – it’s affected his whole support system.
“I’m sorry for them, I’m sorry that they’re feeling the way I’m feeling,” Dahmen said, getting emotional. “I know my wife has been stressed. I have a lot of great people around me and it’s just hard on them because they love me.”
Not everyone got the chance to fight through the weekend. Wesley Bryan, who started at No. 125, missed the cut after a tough finish, playing his last six holes at 3-over par. He’s now projected to fall to 127th.
Some players are making late-season moves up the standings. Daniel Berger, currently tied for 17th, looks set to jump from 127th to 120th. Michael Thorbjornsen, sitting in fourth place, could leap from 138th all the way to 119th – though he’s already secured his spot for next year through PGA Tour University.
For Dahmen, those two weekend rounds ahead might just determine his future in professional golf. Talk about pressure.
