The RSM Classic Preview and Picks

👋 As the PGA Tour season winds down, we’re gearing up for the holidays. We’ll be taking a short break to recharge before kicking off the 2025 season, and we’re excited to bring you some fun new additions to GolfStats.com when the action starts again. Stay tuned—it’s going to be an exciting year ahead!

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🏌️‍♂️ Wrapping Up the 2024 PGA Tour Season

The 47th and final event of the 2024 PGA Tour season is upon us, marking the conclusion of the second iteration of the autumn series. While some marquee players graced fall events that once seemed off-limits, the broader appeal of earning PGA Tour cards solely in the autumn hasn’t reached the heights of the previous wraparound season.

Call me old-fashioned, but I still favor starting the season in September and wrapping up with the Tour Championship. This autumn schedule, while intriguing, often feels like a footnote, losing momentum amidst football, holiday distractions, and the waning days of the year.

With Thanksgiving around the corner, the spotlight shifts away from competition to R&R for the game’s stars. The Hero World Challenge returns to the Bahamas in early December, but Tiger Woods is unlikely to tee it up, still recovering from his fifth microdiscectomy. Similarly, the PNC Championship will miss the buzz of a Tiger-and-Charley Woods pairing, though it’s understandable given Tiger’s recent health battles.

Meanwhile, the European Tour crowned its 2024 season champion, Rory McIlroy, last week in Dubai. For Rory, it was a satisfying bookend to a year that otherwise fell short of his lofty standards.

🌍 PGA Tour Cards for European Standouts

A highlight of the DP World Tour finale was the ten players who punched their tickets to the PGA Tour for 2025. Leading the pack was Denmark’s Rasmus Højgaard, earning a spot in marquee events like The Players, AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, and Genesis Invitational. Joining him are familiar names like Thriston Lawrence, Matteo Manassero, and Antoine Rozner, each eager to make their mark stateside.

For some of last year’s DP World Tour graduates, 2024 was a mixed bag. Robert MacIntyre and Matthieu Pavon won titles to retain their cards, while Adrian Meronk jumped to LIV Golf. Others, including Thorbjørn Olesen and Alexander Björk, missed the top 125 and fell back to European circuits.

The DP World Tour’s semi-wraparound season kicks off with the Australian PGA Championship this week, featuring stars like Cameron Smith and Geoff Ogilvy. It’s a fitting transition as the global golf calendar takes a brief pause before the Sentry Tournament of Champions in January.

🌴 Rafael Campos: A Cinderella Story in Bermuda

In an improbable turn of events, Rafael Campos captured his first PGA Tour victory at the Bermuda Championship, providing one of the feel-good moments of the year. The 36-year-old Puerto Rican came into the week with little momentum—only seven cuts made in 23 starts this season. Just days earlier, he had been at home celebrating the birth of his daughter, Paola.

Campos arrived in Bermuda barely two hours before his tee time on Thursday, yet rallied to shoot rounds of 70-65-62-68, winning by three strokes. Known for excelling on island tracks, Campos’ win adds to a resume that already includes a Korn Ferry title in Bermuda and strong finishes at the Puerto Rico Open and Corales Puntacana.

In addition to a two-year PGA Tour exemption, Campos earned spots in the Masters, PGA Championship, and Sentry Tournament of Champions. His win underscores the unpredictable nature of golf, where a player’s fortunes can turn with one inspired week.

🔮 What’s Next for LIV Golf?

The future of LIV Golf remains one of the most intriguing and uncertain storylines in professional golf. Since the shockwaves of its 2022 debut, LIV has divided the golf world, and despite some big-name signings, the league now finds itself at a crossroads.

When the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) launched LIV Golf, the idea was bold—disrupt the traditional tour structure, attract top talent with massive contracts, and revolutionize the sport with team formats and shorter events. For a time, the headlines were constant. Phil Mickelson’s $200 million payday, Dustin Johnson’s $125 million deal, and whispers of astronomical offers to Tiger Woods and Jon Rahm captivated fans and critics alike.

Fast forward to today, and the buzz has quieted. The proposed merger between LIV, the PGA Tour, and the DP World Tour—announced with great fanfare in June 2023—has gone nowhere. Legal battles were halted, and the tours pledged to collaborate, but months later, there’s no framework, no clarity, and no agreement.

Instead, LIV Golf is set to begin its fourth season in February with a scaled-back schedule of just 10 events, including only three in the United States. The team format remains a unique selling point, but questions linger about whether it’s enough to sustain fan interest. Player contracts, many of which were reportedly three-year deals, are expiring. Will stars like Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau remain loyal without the massive upfront checks?

💰 The Money Problem

LIV’s Achilles’ heel has always been its financial model. The league relied heavily on PIF’s seemingly bottomless wallet to fund operations, player contracts, and even its broadcast coverage. But as the Wall Street Journal reported earlier this year, Saudi officials have begun reining in sports spending across the board, from LIV Golf to their billion-dollar soccer ambitions.

With no significant TV deal and limited sponsorship revenue, LIV has struggled to create a self-sustaining product. Instead, it has been a high-stakes experiment in disruption, burning through billions to challenge golf’s establishment. While PIF’s support was essential for LIV’s launch, the looming question is whether the Saudis see a long-term payoff—or if they’re ready to walk away.

For players, LIV Golf’s future is equally murky. Several high-profile stars, including Sergio Garcia and Tyrrell Hatton, have already expressed interest in returning to the DP World Tour. Meanwhile, PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan has remained firm—LIV players are not welcome back without significant repercussions.

Even LIV loyalists are in limbo. With no public announcements about contract renewals or appearance fees, players like Dustin Johnson and Cameron Smith may be weighing their options. Can LIV afford to keep paying top talent without a sustainable revenue model?

And what about the team format? While it’s been a cornerstone of LIV’s identity, it hasn’t resonated with fans the way traditional tournaments have. If the Saudis step back, will the concept survive?

🤔 Predictions for 2025

So, what’s next? My gut tells me we’ve seen the peak of LIV Golf. Unless something dramatic changes—a major TV deal, a groundbreaking merger with the PGA Tour, or a renewed commitment from PIF—the league may not survive in its current form.

This isn’t to say Saudi Arabia will abandon golf altogether. Their investment in the game has been substantial, and they’ve undoubtedly changed the sport’s financial landscape. But without partnerships or structural changes, it’s hard to see how LIV Golf becomes more than a footnote in golf history.

As we head into 2025, the clock is ticking. LIV’s first event is scheduled for February in Riyadh, but players, officials, and even technical crews remain in the dark. Contracts are expiring, TV plans are nonexistent, and the buzz that once surrounded the league is fading fast.

Could we see a scaled-back version of LIV, perhaps as a team series incorporated into the PGA or DP World Tour schedules? Or will LIV Golf quietly fade away, its ambitious experiment undone by unsustainable spending and insufficient fan interest?

Whatever happens, the next few months will be pivotal. For now, LIV Golf’s future remains one of golf’s most tantalizing mysteries.

🏖 Looking Ahead

As we wrap up 2024, the golf calendar takes a deserved breather. The RSM Classic closes out the fall series, followed by the Hero Challenge and a quiet December before the action resumes at Kapalua. Sal is taking the next week off and returning for a preview of the Hero Challenge. We also are preparing for the 2025 season with some new things we’ll introduce at Kapalua, so stay tuned!

Got ideas for 2025? Reach out to us at [email protected] / [email protected] or [email protected]. Enjoy the RSM Classic, and we’ll see you back in your inbox next week!

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🏌️‍♂️ Spotlight on the RSM Classic

The RSM Classic, nestled in the picturesque Sea Island, Georgia, has carved out its niche as a beloved PGA Tour stop since its 2010 debut. A brainchild of Davis Love III, this event benefits his charities and thrives on his influence to attract both marquee names and hometown heroes. Players like Matt Kuchar, Zach Johnson, and Brian Harman—who call Sea Island home—add a local flavor that resonates with fans.

This year’s tournament is particularly significant, serving as the final fall event under the PGA Tour’s new autumn schedule. The expanded 156-player field utilizes two courses—the Seaside and Plantation layouts—for the opening rounds, with the spotlight shifting to the Seaside Course for the final 54 holes.

🏖 The Seaside Course: A Hidden Gem

The Seaside Course, a classic Harry Colt and Charles Alison design from 1929, underwent a thoughtful Tom Fazio renovation in 1999. Its Scottish links-style layout hugs the Atlantic, offering ocean views, firm fairways, and challenging breezes that test players’ shot-making abilities.

At just 7,005 yards (par 70), it’s not the longest course on Tour, but it presents unique challenges. The greens are notoriously difficult to read, and strategically placed bunkers demand precision. Water hazards and marshlands come into play on most holes, making accuracy critical. Each of the four par-3s faces a different direction, adding variety and complexity, especially in windy conditions.

Despite its shorter yardage, the Seaside Course has teeth when the wind picks up. In calmer years, it’s been among the Tour’s easiest venues, with players regularly going low. Last year, in relatively benign conditions, it played to an average score of 67.58, making it the sixth-easiest course on Tour. This week, with winds expected to reach 13 mph, scoring may be tougher, bringing the course closer to its challenging best.

🌳 The Plantation Course: A Complementary Test

The Plantation Course, originally built in 1928 and redesigned by Rees Jones in 1998, offers a parkland-style contrast to the Seaside’s links. Measuring 7,060 yards (par 72), it features wide fairways framed by ancient oaks and water hazards on ten holes. While slightly more forgiving off the tee, its par-5s provide key scoring opportunities in the opening rounds.

🏆 Who Thrives at the RSM?

The RSM Classic has historically favored precision over power. Most winners, such as 2022 champion Adam Svensson and 2021 winner Robert Streb, rank as medium to short hitters off the tee but excel in scrambling and putting. For example, Svensson ranked 130th in driving distance but 42nd in fairway accuracy for the season.

That said, last year’s winner, Ludvig Åberg, bucked the trend. Known for his elite ball striking, Åberg dominated with his driver, leading the field in Strokes Gained Off-the-Tee and hitting 46 of 56 fairways. His putting and scrambling rounded out a complete performance, proving that power players can also thrive here when paired with a hot short game.

This week’s forecast of steady winds (13 mph Thursday-Saturday) and cooler temperatures (61–67°F) will challenge the field. Players who can control their trajectory and navigate the tricky greens will have a clear edge.

Expect the leaderboard to feature accurate drivers and strong putters, with the likes of Chris Kirk, Brian Harman, and Zach Johnson potentially making noise. As always at Sea Island, success hinges on managing the wind and capitalizing on the gettable par-4s.

The RSM Classic, with its unique dual-course setup and coastal charm, offers one last chance for players to secure crucial FedExCup points before the holiday break. Whether it’s a local favorite or an underdog, this event never fails to deliver compelling storylines.

Keep an eye on the leaderboard—it could be another week where precision trumps power at one of the PGA Tour’s most underrated stops. ⛳

🔑 Keys to Success at the Sea Island Resort

We focus on four key areas to improve performance around and on the greens. The first is Strokes Gained Putting, which is the most important because it shows who is putting the best. Although courses don't average Strokes Gained stats, we found that the seaside course ranked 5th in putting on the PGA Tour in 2023 and 4th in 2022. The second area is scrambling, which is crucial for past winners. It ranked 24th best on the tour in 2023 and 20th in 2022, meaning players are good at recovering. The third area is hitting greens, which is important for success. The course ranked 50th in 2023 and 47th in 2022, indicating many players hit greens. Lastly, we look at birdie average, as making birdies is key. The seaside course averaged 3.68 birdies per round in 2023, ranking T-27th, and 3.66 birdies per round in 2022, ranking T-25th.

*Strokes Gained Putting: A way to see how many strokes gained or lost putting.

*Scrambling: Who gets it up and down the most of anyone in the field.

*Greens in Regulation: How many greens are hit from the fairway.

*Birdie Average: Who has the lowest average of birdies per tournament.

👀 Who to watch for at The RSM Classic

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