ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. — Doug Ghim narrowly missed a putt for 59 on a peaceful day of low scoring Thursday. He settled for a share of the course report on the Seaside course at Sea Island, posting a 10-under 60 on the RSM Traditional for an enormous step towards conserving his PGA Tour card.
Davis Thompson, whose father is event director Todd Thompson, and Rico Hoey additionally had been 10 below, every with a 62 on the Plantation course used for the opening two rounds.
Andrew Putnam was in vary of a sub-60 spherical till he closed with two pars for a 9-under 61 on the Seaside course. Becoming a member of him at 61 was Andrew Novak, enjoying for the primary time for the reason that Tour Championship in late August and the primary time since changing into a father.
The Seaside sometimes is a stronger check due to the wind coming off the water. On today, nevertheless, there was no wind and exceptionally heat climate, splendid for low scores.
Ghim ran off 4 straight birdies, two of them from the 15-foot vary, and he had a birdie putt from 20 toes on No. 18 that slid by the outlet.
“I believed I made it midway there, and on the finish of the day that is all I actually can do,” Ghim stated. “Simply happy to simply have an opportunity actually.”
Equally pleasing was the model of golf he performed within the remaining occasion of the yr. Solely the highest 100 within the FedEx Cup — down from 125 in earlier years — preserve full standing for 2026 when the fields might be smaller.
Ghim got here in at No. 125, so this was the beginning he wanted. He is undecided how excessive he has to complete to get into the highest 100, and he is undecided he needs to know.
“If somebody tells me, it does not actually change something,” Ghim stated. “I in all probability want to complete high three. I do not know precisely what the numbers are, however truthfully, out right here ending third is sort of simply as exhausting as successful. So I am simply centered on enjoying strong golf and hopefully getting my likelihood to win.”
Putnam got here in at No. 119. The opposite three from the main 5 scores are all secure for subsequent yr.
Novak had a breakthrough yr by teaming with Ben Griffin to win the Zurich Traditional of New Orleans, and he contended sufficient to achieve the Tour Championship for the primary time, getting him to all 4 majors.
His solely miss was pulling his tee shot on No. 10 into the bushes, taking a penalty drop 200 yards off the tee and scrambling for a bogey.
“For not enjoying since August, fairly blissful,” he stated. “Really been working fairly exhausting and actually seeing a number of progress. Then two weeks in the past my spouse had our child, so I actually have not finished as a lot the final weeks. So it was good to see some good climate out right here and play a course that I am extra used to seeing, versus what we normally get on the RSM with the chilly and wind.”
Hoey hit all 18 greens for the primary time and holed a 45-foot eagle putt on the par-5 14th at Plantation. Davis Love III, the 61-year-old event host, shot 71.
The typical rating at Seaside was 67.8 (2.2 photographs below par), in contrast with 68.5 on the Plantation (3.5 photographs below par).
Johnny Keefer, who led the Korn Ferry Tour this yr to safe his card, got here into the week at No. 50 on this planet rating and will use an enormous week in a bid to get into the Masters. He overcame a rugged begin with seven birdies on his final 10 holes for a 65 at Seaside.
Takumi Kanaya of Japan bogeyed his final two holes for a 68. Final week in Bermuda, he missed a brief par putt within the wind that value him 16 spots within the FedEx Cup, leaving him at No. 99.
