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 photographs behind and had an even bigger trigger for celebration Friday within the RSM Basic.
Dahmen made a 5-foot par putt on his closing gap for a 2-under 68 in robust situations introduced on by the wind and chilly, permitting him to make the lower 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 obtained extra to jot down this weekend for certain,” stated Dahmen, who not too long ago had stated his story is just not but over. “However with out having the chance to play this weekend, my story could be lots shorter this yr.”
Fishburn took benefit of being on the better Plantation course, with timber blocking the brunt of the wind and two further par 5s. He additionally was helped by Maverick McNealy, who opened with a 62 on the harder 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 Basic 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 important 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 stress 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 closing gap Friday to outlive the lower at The RSM Basic and provides himself an opportunity to earn his 2025 PGA Tour card.
Dahmen additionally hit wedge to 2 toes on the sixteenth that put him on the lower line, and from the 18th fairway, he was safely on the inexperienced some 40 toes away. However he lagged woefully quick, leaving himself a testy 5-footer together with his job on the road.
“It was a fantastic 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 as we speak, I wouldn’t have something this weekend.”
His taking part in companions weren’t so lucky. The Tour put three in peril of shedding their playing cards in the identical group — Zac Blair (No. 123), Dahmen and Wesley Bryan (No. 125).
The lower was at 1-under 141. Blair and Bryan got here to the 18th gap needing birdie to be assured of constructing the lower and each narrowly missed. Now they’ve to attend to see if anybody passes them, which is often 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 loads of expertise taking part in in chilly rising up in Utah, taking part in this time of yr, type of get used to taking part in when the physique’s not transferring very nicely and also you’ve obtained to maneuver your palms,” stated Fishburn, who performed faculty golf at BYU. “Simply fairly pleased with how I performed.”
Ludvig Åberg, the defending champion and No. 5 participant on the earth 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 like he belongs every week. Clanton, the No. 1 participant on the earth beginner rating who obtained a sponsor exemption, had a 65 at Plantation and was two photographs off the lead.
Clanton already has a runner-up and two different top-10s since June.
“Taking part in with him, it’s fairly superior to observe,” Clanton stated. “We have been type of fanboying a little bit it. I do know he’s a extremely good dude however to be taking part in with him and to see what he’s finished during the last couple years, it’s fairly inspirational.”
