Out of the Rough: The RSM Classic (2025)

Just like that, the FedExCup Fall comes to an end with this week’s The RSM Classic.

The RSM Classic will put a cap to not only the FedExCup Fall, but the 2025 PGA Tour season as a whole.

Historically speaking, this event was once a laid back affair that had a tranquil vibe on the coast of Georgia but with the added implications of the FedExCup Fall, the pressure will be high this week.

The top 100 of the FedEx Cup standings come Sunday will receive full exemption for the 2026 PGA Tour season. Those within the top 100 will qualify for every full-field event as well as THE PLAYERS.

Those ranked between 101-and-125 of the FedEx Cup standings will receive conditional PGA Tour status for the 2026 season.

The Field

Outside of the Procore Championship that saw 11-of-the-12 members of Team USA tee it up, this is the best field we’ve seen across the FedEx Cup Fall.

Harris English (World Number 13,) is the highest ranked golfer within the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR) to be playing this week.

He’ll be joined by Brian Harman (No. 32,) Andrew Novak (No. 33,) Michael Brennan (No. 40,) Sam Stevens (No. 48,) and Ryan Gerard (No. 49) as golfers ranked within the top 50 of the OWGR in this week’s field.

In total, 29 golfers within the top 100 of the OWGR will be teeing it up this week. 

As previously mentioned, this is the final event of both the FedExCup Fall and the 2025 PGA Tour season, meaning those ranked within the top 100 of the FedEx Cup standings will receive PGA Tour cards for the 2026 season.

Additionally, those ranked between 101-and-125 will receive conditional status for the PGA Tour in 2026.

Heading into the final week, the first five within the top-100 cut line are Thorbjorn Olesen, Danny Walker, Michael Brennan, Takumi Kanya and Karl Vilips.

The first five outside of the top-100 are Max Homa, Matt Wallace, Beau Hossler, Isaiah Salinda and David Lipsky.

The first five within the top-125 cut line are Jackson Suber, Lee Hodges, Lanto Griffin, Frankie Cappan III and Doug Ghim. The first five outside of the top-125 are Brandt Snedeker, Alex Noren, Carson Young, Seamus Power and Hayden Springer.

Maverick McNealy claimed his maiden PGA Tour title here a season ago, topping Daniel Berger, Luke Clanton and Nico Echavarria by one-stroke. He will not be back this week to defend his title.

Each of the last four winners of this event - McNealy, Ludvig Aberg (2023,) Adam Svensson (2022) & Talor Gooch (2021) - used this event to claim their first PGA Tour victory.

Since this tournament's inception in 2010, ten-of-the-15 winners won their first PGA Tour title here.

Former winners of this event teeing it up this week include Svensson (2022,) Robert Streb (2014 and 2020,) Tyler Duncan (2019,) Mackenzie Hughes (2016,) Kevin Kisner (2015,) Chris Kirk (2013) and Tommy Gainey (2012.) 

The Courses

This week’s The RSM Classic is played at two separate courses at the Sea Island Golf Club - the Plantation Course and the Seaside Course - in rotation for the first two days.

Those who make the cut will play their final two rounds at the Seaside Course.

Seaside Course

The Seaside Course plays as a par-70 at 7,005 yards.

It was originally made up of two separate nine-hole courses. The first nine-hole course was designed by Colt and Alison in 1929 and the second was added in 1973, designed by Joe Lee.

The Seaside Course was created in 1999 when Tom Fazio combined the two.

This track is positioned right on the southern tip of St. Simons Island and is described as a sea-side links style venue with Bermuda grass throughout.

It consists of two par-fives, four par-threes and 12 par-fours. Of the par-fours, ten of them play under 450 yards.

The most difficult hole at the Seaside Course is the par-four 14th hole that plays at 442-yards and has an average score of 0.1 strokes over par. 

Being on the coast, this course is susceptible to very windy conditions. However, if the wind doesn’t become a factor, this course can play very easy.

Sebastian Munoz opened the 2021 renewal of this event with a ten-under-par 60 at the Seaside Course.

This course’s biggest defense is simply, the wind.

Plantation Course

The Plantation Course plays as a par-72 at 7,060 yards.

It was originally designed by Walter Travis in 1926 and was renovated in 1998 by Rees Jones. It was then revamped once again in 2019 by Love Golf Design.

Following the modifications in 2019, 153 yards were added and the course was made more difficult overall.

The par-five eighth hole was the only hole unchanged during the 2019 revamping.

This course is described as “parkland by the sea.”

Much like what we see at the Torrey Pines’ rotation of the North and South Courses, golfers must capitalize on the easier Plantation Course during one of their two opening rounds. 

The Plantation Course has an average scoring average of 1.6 under par as the Seaside Course has an average scoring average of 0.9 under par.

The Weather

As of the time of writing this, Thursday calls for a ten-percent chance of precipitation, Friday a 15-percent chance, Saturday a 20-percent chance and Sunday a 25-percent chance. Temperatures will begin at 75-degrees on Thursday before peaking at 76-degrees across both Friday and Saturday. Temperatures will then drop to 70-degrees for Sunday. Winds will begin at eight miles-per-hour on Thursday before peaking at 12 miles-per-hour on Friday. They’ll dip down to nine miles-per-hour for Saturday and finish the week at eight miles-per-hour on Sunday. 

Key Stats

• Strokes Gained: Approach (SG: APP)

• Greens in Regulation Percentage (GIR%)

• Scrambling

• Strokes Gained: Putting on Bermuda (SG: PUTT Bermuda)

• Proximity to the hole from 100-175 Yards

• Birdie or Better Percentage

• Hit Fairway Percentage

• Par Four Average Scoring

Betting Card

Pierceson Coody (+4500)

I played Coody at a much smaller number last week so figured I’d go back to the well with a better number. He is currently third on Tour in birdie or better percentage, fourth in par-four average scoring, 11th in GIR%, 41st in scrambling, 61st in hit fairway percentage, 87th in SG: PUTT Bermuda, 120th in SG: APP and 130th in proximity to the hole from 100-175 yards. He placed 22nd last week in Bermuda, 31st the week prior at the World Wide Technology Championship, third at the Bank of Utah Championship and 14th at the Sanderson Farms Championship. He played this event a season ago where he missed the cut. He has his PGA Tour card via promotion from the Korn Ferry Tour so unlike many in this field, he can play a bit free-and-relaxed, or so we can believe. 

Nico Echavarria (+5000)

This was my first click this week. He placed 46th last week at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship, 14th at the World Wide Technology Championship and ninth at the Baycurrent Classic. He has also played this event each of the past three seasons. He placed second a year ago, 44th in 2023 and missed the cut in 2022. He is currently sixth on Tour in SG: PUTT Bermuda, 38th in birdie or better percentage, 55th in hit fairway percentage, 78th in SG: APP, 87th in GIR%, 88th in proximity to the hole from 100-175 yards, 95th in scrambling and 120th in par four average scoring. 

Mac Meissner (+6600)

Meissner does everything rather well to fit this golf course. He is currently eighth on Tour in scrambling, 37th in SG: APP, 41st in SG: PUTT, 52nd in proximity to the hole from 100-175 yards, 57th in par-four average scoring, 95th in GIR%, 99th in hit fairway percentage and 129th in birdie-or-better percentage. He last played the Bank of Utah Championship where he placed 27th. Prior to that he placed 27th at the Baycurrent Classic, 14th at the Sanderson Farms Championship and 47th at the Procore Championship. He’ll be making his tournament debut this week.

Sami Valimaki (+7000)

Valimaki comes into this week on the back of two consecutive strong outings. He placed 18th last week at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship and placed second at the World Wide Technology Championship. He’ll be making his tournament debut this week. He is currently 18th on Tour in SG: APP, 26th in SG: PUTT Bermuda, 40th in birdie or better percentage, 45th in proximity to the hole from 100-175 yards, 51st in GIR%, 57th in par-four average scoring, 80th in scrambling and 94th in hit fairway percentage. 

Lee Hodges (+12500)

I hate to admit it, but Hodges popped rather highly in my stats-based model this week. He is currently 16th on Tour in GIR%, 21st in scrambling, 23rd in par-four average scoring, 29th in SG: APP, 31st in hit fairway percentage, 40th in proximity to the hole from 100-175 yards, 76th in birdie or better percentage and 81st in SG: PUTT Bermuda. The form isn’t great coming into this week but he has made the cut in four-of-his-last-five outings, each within the FedExCup Fall. He placed 61st at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship, 40th at the World Wide Technology Championship, missed the cut at the Bank of Utah Championship, 40th at the Baycurrent Classic and 38th at the Sanderson Farms Championship. He also placed fifth here a season ago. He also played this event in 2022 where he missed the cut and placed 57th in 2021. Hodges is also 122nd in the FedExCup standings so anything outside of a victory will likely see him not retain a card for 2025.

Ben Kohles (+25000)

Kohles is currently 147th in the FedExCup standings so without a victory, he won’t be receiving a PGA Tour card next season. He is currently third on Tour in GIR%, fourth in hit fairway percentage, ninth in SG: APP, 14th in proximity to the hole from 100-175 yards, 23rd in par-four average scoring, 66th in scrambling, 96th in birdie-or-better percentage and 114th in SG: PUTT Bermuda. An approach specialist at a course that requires strong approach play. He comes into this week making three consecutive cuts, as well as making the cut in four-of-his-last-five events. He placed 61st last week at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship, 63rd at the World Wide Technology Championship, 20th at the Bank of Utah Championship, missed the cut at the Sanderson Farms Championship and placed 26th at the Procore Championship. He missed the cut here last year but placed fifth in 2023. He also missed the cut here in 2021.