The end of the PGA Tour season is here, and all eyes are on St. Simons Island for the RSM Classic, hosted by Davis Love III. This seventh and final FedEx Fall event brings a 156-player field to Sea Island Resort, where careers and exemptions hang in the balance.
Stakes Higher Than Ever
With full exempt status on the line, making the cut for weekend play on the Seaside Course is essential. Starting in 2026, only the top 100 players in the FedEx Cup standings will be fully exempt. Those finishing 101st–125th will earn conditional status, leaving their schedules uncertain in a more limited field era.
The FedEx Cup Fall has been dubbed golf’s “second season”—a chance for players outside the top 50 to earn points, improve standings, and secure spots in next year’s signature events. Those finishing 51–60 will gain entry into the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and Genesis Invitational
Here are some stories to watch:
Johnny Keefer’s Quest:
The 24-year-old Korn Ferry Tour Player of the Year, ranked 52nd in the Official World Golf Rankings, is chasing a Masters invitation. With his second sponsor exemption in three PGA Tour events, Keefer hopes to climb into the top 50.
“I just want to play the absolute best that I can,” the Baltimore native said. “Obviously the Masters would be fantastic, but it’s just another opportunity to get out here and kind of prove to myself, prove to a lot of people as well that I can compete out here and I can compete on a different level as well. You know, I’m just coming out here enjoying the process.
Davis Love III’s Milestone:
Thursday’s opening round will mark his 792nd career start, just 11 shy of Mark Brooks’ record. At age 61, the tournament host and hometown hero reflected on building something special here.
“We always enjoyed playing at Callaway Gardens, Hilton Head, or Disney World because our families loved going there, so we created a hospitality experience—something Sea Island has been doing for 100 years,” Love said. “Over the years, we’ve done everything here—from the start of the season to the end of the season and playing for your Tour card. Sunday will be interesting, but so will Friday because guys have to advance to the weekend to finish well enough in the standings, top 50 or whatever.”
Adam Schenk’s Momentum:
Fresh off his first Tour victory in Bermuda after 243 starts, Schenk is testing whether momentum truly matters. His win vaulted him safely inside the top 100.
“It definitely makes this week less stressful, but when you’re on a heater, you kind of need to ride it. Whether momentum’s a thing, you know, I don’t know that you can prove that it is, but I don’t know that you can prove that it isn’t,” Schenk said. “I think that mentally, as soon as you start to believe that it is real, even if the momentum has nothing to do with it, and there’s a lot of things in life that literally have nothing to do with something, but if you believe that it does, then it does.”
Ben Griffin’s Breakthrough:
The 29-year-old joined Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy as three-time winners this season after claiming the Worldwide Technologies Championship in Mexico. Griffin is the only one of the trio in this week’s field.
Bubble Boys:
Karl Vilips sits precariously at No. 100, just ahead of Matt Wallace and Beau Hossler. Max Homa, at 101, is safe thanks to prior victories, but others face a intense week.
Past Champions Return
Several former RSM Classic winners are back to chase another yet another: Adam Svensson (2022), Robert Streb (2020, 2014), Tyler Duncan (2019), Austin Cook (2017), Mackenzie Hughes (2016), Kevin Kisner (2015), and Chris Kirk (2013). Defending champion Maverick McNealy also headlines the field.
Prize and Prestige:
Players are competing for a $7 million purse, with more than $1.2 million to the winner and 500 FedEx Cup points. For many, this represents the last chance to secure their playing status
RSM Classic Charitable and Community Impact
Now in its 16th year, the RSM Classic has raised over $48 million and delivers an estimated $15 million of economic impact to Georgia’s Golden Isles. Title sponsor RSM, the sixth-largest accounting firm in the world, extended its agreement through 2028, ensuring continued support for charitable causes and community growth.
SEA ISLAND AND THE GEORGIA GOLF TRAIL
Sea Island Resort is actually on St. Simons Island, a popular tourist destination between Savannah and Jacksonville. It offers many activities that go far beyond its reputation as a golfing destination. Guests can enjoy coastal adventures such as fishing, sailing, kayaking, and paddleboarding, or explore the natural beauty of the Golden Isles through beach horseback riding and guided nature walks. The sunset cruises aboard the Sea Island Explorer are a must, where dolphins are a common sight in the marshes. The resort also features falconry demonstrations, tennis, pickleball, and wellness experiences, ensuring lasting memories.
Sea Island is part of a broader tourism story through the Georgia Golf Trail, a collection of more than 20 premier courses and resorts across the state.
“We enjoy showcasing our outstanding golf courses with first-class accommodations and genuine southern hospitality,” said Doug Hollandsworth, founder of the Georgia Golf Trail, created to spotlight the Peach State as a year-round destination, where visitors can soak in the natural beauty that helps to define the state.
While the trail highlights Georgia’s heritage, it also promotes the state’s diverse hospitality offerings—from mountain retreats to coastal escapes—making it a valuable resource for travelers seeking both recreation and relaxation.
Courses at Sea Island
The opening rounds are split between two championship layouts. The Seaside Course is a Tom Fazio-designed par-70, known for its coastal winds and strategic demands, while the Plantation Course is ar-72 reimagined by Love’s design firm in 2019, blending history with playability.
Weekend play shifts exclusively to the Seaside, where the drama will unfold against the backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean.
