With the RSM Classic as the last official event of the PGA Tour 2024 calendar, the season comes to an end. While we have seen a lot this year within the PGA Tour, the grand finale is yet to be decided. Scheduled from November 21 to 24 at the Sea Island Golf Club in St. Simons Island, Georgia, this event brings plenty of anticipation—not just for the winner, but also for what it means to the players battling for their futures. Like every year, the field is studded with several golf stars, including field veteran Ludvig Åberg, who is back on the course, defending his title. Meanwhile, the others fight to cement their names in the history book of the RSM Classic.

It’s not just about the trophy or the $7.6 million purse, though those are impressive enough. The winner’s $1,368,000 payout is tempting, sure, but for many players, the stakes are much bigger. The RSM Classic 2024 is a golden opportunity for golfers hovering around the top 125 of the FedExCup standings to secure full status for 2025. Falling within the 126-150 range? There’s still a conditional status to aim for, but outside of these brackets, players face a tougher road, with the PGA TOUR Q-School offering one last shot at regaining eligibility.

Quite impressive, indeed, but the bigger question is—since it’s the last event of the Tour, will there be a cut at the RSM Classic? Yes, the RSM Classic 2024 will have a 36-hole cut. Players will compete on two courses—the Seaside and Plantation layouts—over the first two rounds. By the end of Friday, the field will be reduced to the low 65 players and ties, who will then play exclusively on the Seaside Course for the weekend rounds. So, yes, the race to earn better points never ends for PGA players.

With the RSM Classic, the PGA Tour will mark its 47th and final event of this season, which has been grand in all senses. For some players, it’s a chance to reflect on a solid year, while others get to join an all-or-nothing battle to keep their careers alive. With the return of Ludvig Åberg on the course, the competition has become as fierce as expected.

Ludvig Åberg has returned with a big Goal

Currently ranked No. 5 in the OWGR, Ludvig Åberg clinched his first PGA Tour win at the 2023 RSM Classic. The moment was indeed big for the golfer—he not only took home the trophy but also set a record for the lowest score over the final two rounds. Now that’s what you call a great debut. So, while Ludvig is back to defend his title, is he still the dominant force he was last year? It’s early to say.

With only the first round in the books, Ludvig’s return to action is off to a shaky start. After a month-long break to recover from medial meniscus surgery in September, Åberg shot a 3-over 73 on the tougher Seaside Course. The round included a triple bogey at the 10th, where he lost his tee shot in the native area, leaving him at 5-over par at one point. “It was hard, obviously it was a rough day,” Åberg admitted, continuing, “It was a lot of rust, I felt like, but I also felt like the good was pretty good but the bad was really bad. A little bit of everything today, but all in all, pretty happy to be back playing golf again.”

Despite a rough start, Ludvig Åberg remains optimistic. He has three more rounds to find his form and defend his title, and if his career so far has shown us anything, it’s that he knows how to step up when it counts.