Blog#191 Preview RMS Classic 

Blog#191 Preview RMS Classic 

RMS Classic Sea Island GA Nov 21-24, 2024  Par 72

Purse $ 7.6M – $800K 9%

HISTORY This is the 8th and final PGA official tournament of the year in an interesting Fall Season which started on Sept 12 with the Procure Championship in Napa CA.  Last years Champion Ludvog is the favorite and best player in the event.  Competing players who have won are Kevin Kisner 2015 and McKenzie Hughes 2016.  There are other big names such as Brian Harman, Denny McCarthy, J.T. Postin, and Seamus Power, but the 156 player field has only a few recognizable names.

FAVORITES Ludvig Aberg 8/1 should win and posted a record score of 256-29 to win by 4 over MacKenzie Hughes.  It was his 1st PGA win in only 16 starts.  However this is his 1st tournament since having knee surgery in September and he may not be 100%.

2 Davis Thompson 22/1 If the knee is a problem for Aberg he should win.

3 Denny McCarthy  25/1 Considered best putter on tour and if he can putt well could win.

4 Brian Herman 25/1 Since he won THE OPEN in 2023 he has not been relevant.

5 Si Woo Kim 28/1 He keeps knocking at the door but can’t seem to put 4 good RDs together. 

6 Matt Wallace 30/1 He does not belong in the top 10.

7 J.T. Poston 33/1 Won at the Shriners in October and could win again.

8 Seamus Power 33/1 He can’t seem to get off to a good start, if he does he could win.

9 Harris English 35/1 His best golf is behind him, lives on Sea Island, but little chance to win.

10 MacKenzie Hughes 35/1 Has played well in this tournament, with odds may be a good bet.

LONGSHOTS

1 EricCole 40/1 Still looking for his first win, this could be it finished 3rd last year.

2 Patrick Rogers 50/1 This guy has to win a tournament soon.

3 Mark Hubbard 55/1 Tied for 3rd in Bermuda and has played well in the Fall events. 

4 Joe Highsmith 80/1 He has played well with 4 top 20’s in 5 Fall events.

5 Rafeal Campos Missed cut last 2 years won last week and would be happy to make the cut. 

PGA NEWS

PGA Policy board votes to make the following streamlining changes effective 2026;

Changes will help with the effects of slow play as less players will mean less time for the field to be on the golf course and chances of finishing RDs more likely.

Reduce PGA Cards from 125 to 100. 

Reduce tournament tours from 156 to 144.

Reduce Players Tournament 144 to 120.

Korn-Ferry top players to get PGA Cards reduced from 30 to 20.

Monday qualifiers eliminated.  Only 6 have ever won a PGA Tournament.

While many are against this because it deprives many struggling or up and coming players from playing in PGA event, the facts are that rarely do many who from 100 to 156 ranked in tournaments even make the cut.  So they earn no money but absorb expenses.  

In future blogs I will make observations on these issues.