Joel Dahmen has stood over thousands of six-foot putts in his golf career, but none were as nerve-racking as the one he faced on Friday afternoon with his PGA Tour status in the balance. With his hands shaking and his heartbeat quickening, Dahmen drilled his par putt into the back of the hole to make the RSM Classic cut on the number.
The ensuing fist pump said it all.
Dahmen entered the RSM Classic in a precarious position. The 37-year-old fan favorite needed to finish the week inside the top 125 in the FedEx Cup Fall standings to secure his PGA Tour card for the 2025 season. A missed cut at Sea Island Golf Club would’ve knocked him off the PGA Tour as a full-time member and sent him back to the minor leagues.
After a 2-over 74 in the first round, Dahmen knew he needed something special on Friday to keep his hopes alive. Thankfully for the veteran, he recorded a 3-under 68 in the second round and made the most stressful putt of his career to make the cut on the number. Imagine needing to hole a six-footer to keep your job. Well, Dahmen just did, and he poured it right in the middle.
Speaking to reporters after the round, an emotional Dahmen shared how much his family has helped him keep his dreams alive.
“I have a lot of great people around me, and so it’s hard on them, Dahmen said, per PGA Tour. “But it’s just because they love me and they care about me… Thankfully, I have my family here. The only thing I’ve noticed that gets my mind off of anything is my kid, and that’s been great.”
Dahmen is currently projected to finish 126th in the FedEx Cup Fall, but he has two more rounds of golf to rack up some birdies and fall inside the top 125.
The difference between 126 and 125 is career-changing for players like Dahmen, especially now. The PGA Tour plans to eliminate 25 Tour cards and shrink the size of fields starting in 2026. Couple that with the growing number of talented, young players joining the pros at an early age, and it’s harder than ever for bubble players like Dahmen to maintain their tour cards.
Dahmen is closing in on 40. He won’t be able to keep up with the young bombers dominating the sport for much longer. If he lipped out that six-footer and missed the cut on Friday, it could’ve been the end of his career as a full-time PGA Tour player.
Thanks to his nerves of steel, Dahmen will have a chance to play his way to full-time status in 2025. It’s safe to say we’ll all be Dahmen fans this weekend.