ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. — PGA Tour rookie Patrick Fishburn performed bogey-free for an 8-under 64 for his first lead after any spherical. Joel Dahmen was 10 pictures behind and had an even bigger trigger for celebration Friday within the RSM Traditional.
Dahmen made a 5-foot par putt on his last gap for a 2-under 68 in robust circumstances introduced on by the wind and chilly, permitting him to make the reduce on the quantity and get two extra days to safe his PGA Tour card for subsequent yr. He’s No. 124 within the FedExCup and projected at 126th after two rounds.
“I nonetheless acquired extra to put in writing this weekend for certain,” stated Dahmen, who just lately had stated his story isn’t but over. “However with out having the chance to play this weekend, my story could be rather a lot shorter this yr.”
Fishburn took benefit of being on the better Plantation course, with bushes blocking the brunt of the wind and two extra par 5s. He additionally was helped by Maverick McNealy, who opened with a 62 on the more durable Seaside course, making two bogeys late in his spherical and having to accept a 70.
Fishburn, who already has locked up his card for subsequent yr, was at 11-under 131 and led McNealy and Lee Hodges (63) going into the weekend. Michael Thorbjornsen had a 69 and was the one participant who needed to face Seaside on Friday who was among the many high 5.
What mattered on this present day, nonetheless, was far down the leaderboard.
The RSM Traditional is the ultimate match of the PGA Tour season, and solely the highest 125 within the FedExCup have full standing in 2025. That’s extra crucial than ever with the tour solely taking the highest 100 for full playing cards after subsequent season. Gamers like Dahmen will want full standing to get as many taking part in alternatives as they’ll.
That explains why he felt a lot strain on a Friday. He didn’t make a bogey after his opening gap and was battling temperatures within the low 50s that felt even colder with the wind ripping off the Atlantic waters of St. Simons Sound. He made a key birdie on the 14th, hitting a 4-iron for his second shot on the 424-yard gap.
Dahmen needed to make a 5 1/2-foot par putt on his last gap Friday to outlive the reduce at The RSM Traditional and provides himself an opportunity to earn his 2025 PGA Tour card.
Dahmen additionally hit wedge to 2 ft on the sixteenth that put him on the reduce line, and from the 18th fairway, he was safely on the inexperienced some 40 ft away. However he lagged woefully brief, leaving himself a testy 5-footer along with his job on the road.
“It was a terrific putt. I used to be very nervous,” Dahmen stated. “However there’s nonetheless work to do. It wasn’t the game-winner, it was just like the half-court shot to get us to halftime. However with out that, and the best way I performed at the moment, I wouldn’t have something this weekend.”
His taking part in companions weren’t so lucky. The Tour put three in peril of dropping their playing cards in the identical group — Zac Blair (No. 123), Dahmen and Wesley Bryan (No. 125).
The reduce was at 1-under 141. Blair and Bryan got here to the 18th gap needing birdie to be assured of constructing the reduce and each narrowly missed. Now they’ve to attend to see if anybody passes them, which is usually the case.
Thorbjornsen in a tie for fourth and Daniel Berger (66 at Plantation) in a tie for seventeenth each have been projected to maneuver into the highest 125. Dahmen, certainly, nonetheless has work to do.
Fishburn will get a weekend to see if he can finish his rookie yr with a win.
“I’ve had numerous expertise taking part in in chilly rising up in Utah, taking part in this time of yr, sort of get used to taking part in when the physique’s not transferring very nicely and also you’ve acquired to maneuver your palms,” stated Fishburn, who performed faculty golf at BYU. “Simply fairly proud of how I performed.”
Ludvig Åberg, the defending champion and No. 5 participant on this planet competing for the primary time in additional than two months due to knee surgical procedure, bounced again with a 64 on Plantation and was again within the combine.
Åberg performed with Luke Clanton, the Florida State sophomore who appears to be like like he belongs every week. Clanton, the No. 1 participant on this planet novice rating who obtained a sponsor exemption, had a 65 at Plantation and was two pictures off the lead.
Clanton already has a runner-up and two different top-10s since June.
“Enjoying with him, it’s fairly superior to observe,” Clanton stated. “We have been sort of fanboying a bit of it. I do know he’s a very good dude however to be taking part in with him and to see what he’s executed during the last couple years, it’s fairly inspirational.”
