Wesley Bryan, Others Fight to Keep Tour Cards at RSM Classic

The PGA Tour’s final showdown of the season kicks off Thursday at Sea Island, and for dozens of players, their entire careers hang in the balance.

Wesley Bryan finds himself in pro golf’s most nerve-wracking position – sitting exactly at No. 125 in FedExCup points. That’s the magic number that decides who keeps their PGA Tour card for next year.

It’s golf’s version of walking a tightrope without a net.

For Bryan, the math is brutally simple: he needs to win the RSM Classic to guarantee his spot. Anything less, and he’ll be watching the scoreboard, doing calculations, and hoping others don’t pass him.

Just how tight is this race? Henrik Norlander sits at No. 126, less than nine points behind Bryan. A two-way tie for 49th could be enough to push Norlander past Bryan – if Bryan misses the cut.

Some players can breathe a little easier. Anyone ranked 118th or better is probably safe, barring a bizarre series of results.

Michael Kim, currently at No. 110, just needs to finish in a two-way tie for 55th or better to lock up his card. That’s assuming everything below him goes wrong – which almost never happens.

The highest-ranked player who’s already clinched? That’s Jacob Bridgeman at No. 109.

For those further down the rankings, it gets really tough. Players ranked 184th or worse have only one path to keeping their Tour card – winning the tournament outright.

A few big names don’t have to worry, regardless of what happens. Webb Simpson, Gary Woodland, and Stewart Cink have career exemptions that keep them on Tour next year.

When the first shots are fired Thursday morning, every player will know exactly what they need to do. For some, it’s just another tournament. For others, it’s potentially career-changing.

That’s what makes the RSM Classic one of the most dramatic events of the year – even if it’s not a major championship.