Shut out of playoffs, state PGA Tour players look to boost status in fall tournaments

The PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup playoffs began Thursday, and no one from South Carolina will be represented in the march to the season-long championship for the first time.

Revised eligibility requirement — dropping the number of qualifiers from 125 to 70 — creates an obvious factor in the absence of Palmetto State players. So, too, does Dustin Johnson’s move to the LIV golf tour.

Other elements to consider: the establishment of “signature” events with limited fields; added eligibility for college and DP World Tour players reduced playing opportunities; and, perhaps most important, the influx of talented young players from around the world increased competition.

Indeed, if the 2025 season were to open this week, only Lucas Glover (Greenville/Clemson) and Andrew Novak (Mount Pleasant/Wofford) from the S.C. contingent would be guaranteed spots in the 125 — the cut-off for full eligibility.

Players will carry their FedEx Cup points from the regular season into the fall and will continue to accumulate points toward 2025 status. Glover, at No. 78, and Novak, at 86, will be in the top 125 no matter what happens in the fall tournaments.

On the cusp — in for now but work to do in the fall — are Carson Young (Pendleton/Clemson) at 109, Jacob Bridgeman (Inman/Clemson) at 121 and Matt NeSmith (Aiken/USC) at 122.

In position to advance are Trace Crowe (Greenville) at 135, Ben Martin (Greenville/Clemson) at 152 and Wesley Bryan (Columbia/USC) at 156. A neck injury kept Martin on the sidelines the latter part of the season.

The others require strong performances in the fall to secure full status. For example, Kevin Kisner (Aiken), long a fixture in the top 50 or 60 in the world, is No. 198 on the points list. Bill Haas (Greenville) is another slot back.

Status means everything. Status means playing opportunities. Multi-tournament winner Jonathan Byrd (Columbia/Clemson), for example, got only five PGA starts. William McGirt (Bluffton/Wofford), whose credentials include a victory in Jack Nicklaus’ Memorial Tournament, also played in only five events.

For the year, Glover, who qualified to play in all the signature events that offer increased points, lost his putting magic that boosted him to a pair of late 2023 tournament wins. After “making everything” in a memorable streak last year, he skidded to 157 in the shots-gained-putting statistic.

Novak enjoyed a consistently solid season, making the cut in 15 of his 20 starts and recording nine finishes in the top 25. Bridgeman, a rookie, placed in the top 25 in seven of his 20 starts.

Both NeSmith and Bryan came within a whisker of winning a tournament, which would have secured a two-year exemption.

In April, Bryan led most of the way in the Tour’s stop in the Dominican Republic and looked like a sure winner with a final 68. But Billy Horschel came out of nowhere with a finishing 63 to seize the title.

In the ISCO Championship in Kentucky, NeSmith tied for the lead after 72 holes and had putts to win on the first two playoff holes. He lost in the five-player playoff on the third extra hole to Harry Hall’s chip-in birdie.

After the FedEx playoff opener in Memphis, the top 50 advance to the BMW in Colorado, then the 30 survivors play for the Tour Championship in Atlanta.

The fall tournaments begin 11 days later, and the jockeying for playing status resumes in earnest.

Chip shots. Russell Glover, whose career included competitive success at the junior, amateur and professional levels and long-time service in club professional roles, will become the 79th member of the South Carolina Golf Hall of Fame in January. He will be inducted in ceremonies on South Carolina Golf Day, Jan. 11, 2025. ... Michael Sims (Lexington), Austin Langdale (Easley) and Brinson Paolini (Virginia Beach, Virginia) advanced to the 2024 U.S. Mid-Amateur championship in qualifying at the CC of Lexington. Sims and Langdale shared medalist honors in the field of 74 with 5-under-par 67s. ... The RBC Heritage, set for Hilton Head Island the week after the Masters in April, again will be a signature event and attract the PGA Tour’s top players. The Myrtle Beach Classic will be played for the second time in May.