RG's "Wednesday Fairway Focus" is a weekly look at golf's major tours. PGA Professional Brendon Elliott, a three-decade industry veteran, provides his insights. In this installment, the year that was on the PGA TOUR, final standings, year-end awards.
News & Notes From the 2024 PGA TOUR Season
The Final Top 125 Standings
The 2024 PGA TOUR Season concluded with the RSM Classic, marking the final chance for players to secure a position within the top 125. This ranking grants access to all Full-Field Events and THE PLAYERS Championship in 2025. Notably, Daniel Berger and Henrik Norlander successfully entered the top 125 during this event.
Berger, a four-time PGA TOUR winner, entered the RSM Classic ranked No. 127 in the FedExCup Fall standings. With a strong performance finishing T2, he ascended to No. 100, achieving his best finish since winning the 2021 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. This marked a significant step in his final year of tournament winner exemption.
With a final round of 64, Joel Dahmen finished T35, maintaining his position at No. 124 in the standings to secure fully exempt status for 2025. After a challenging start with a first-round 73, he made the cut with a crucial 5-foot, 6-inch par putt.
Despite missing the cut, Sam Ryder ended the season at No. 125 in the final FedExCup Fall standings.
Seven players improved their standings from outside the top 125 during the FedExCup Fall, including Alex Smalley, Greyson Sigg, and Kammer Kizzire, highlighting a competitive finish to the season. Martin Laird was the only player finishing outside the top 150 who managed to rise into the top 150, moving from No. 152 to No. 145 after finishing T17 in the RSM Classic.
A Look at the Aon Next 10
The Aon Next 10 features players ranked Nos. 51-60 in the final FedExCup Fall standings, ensuring their participation in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and The Genesis Invitational. The lineup includes Maverick McNealy (No. 51), Mackenzie Hughes (No. 52), and Tom Kim (No. 59), among others.
Kevin Yu made notable progress, moving from No. 61 to No. 58 after a T11 finish in the RSM Classic, bumping Justin Rose out of the Aon Next 10. Other players who improved their rankings included Nico Echavarria and Ben Griffin, both of whom finished strong after starting outside the top 60.
Final Stage of PGA TOUR Q-School
With the rankings finalized, attention turns to the Final Stage of the PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry in December. This is the last opportunity for players to earn or regain TOUR membership. The top five finishers (and ties) will receive TOUR cards, while the next 25 finishers will earn fully exempt status on the Korn Ferry Tour.
Exemptions for the Q-School finals include the top 40 players below the 125 cutoff in the FedExCup standings and those outside the top 150 with significant FedExCup points. Players ranked within the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking as of November 18 will also be exempt.
This final stage will be crucial for many players as they strive to improve their status and secure their places for the next season.
PGA TOUR Year-End Award Nominees
The PGA TOUR announced its nominees for the 2024 Year-End Awards on Monday. The nominees for the Jack Nicklaus Award (Player of the Year) include Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, and Scottie Scheffler. The Arnold Palmer Award (Rookie of the Year) nominees are Nick Dunlap, Max Greyserman, Jake Knapp, and Matthieu Pavon.
Player of the Year Nominees
Scottie Scheffler: Entered 19 events and dominated with seven wins, including at the Masters and TOUR Championship. He earned gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics and was the 2024 FedExCup champion, with a low scoring average of 68.645 and a tour-leading 16 top-10 finishes.
Rory McIlroy: Competed in 19 events with two wins at the Zurich Classic and Truist Championship. Finished 9th in the FedExCup with a scoring average of 69.914, accruing seven top 10 finishes and missing just one cut.
Xander Schauffele: Teed it up in 22 events, securing two wins at the PGA and Open Championship. He finished 4th in the FedExCup, recorded a scoring average of 69.137, and achieved 15 top 10 finishes without missing a cut.
In all honesty, and without taking anything away from the others, this is a foregone conclusion. Scottie will be this year's PGA TOUR Player of the Year.
Rookie of the Year Nominees
Nick Dunlap: Competing in 23 events, he won twice, making history as the first player to win as both an amateur and professional in the same season, finishing 49th in the FedExCup.
Max Greyserman: Entered 26 events with three second-place finishes, finishing 48th in the FedExCup after making 19 cuts.
Jake Knapp: Competed in 23 events with one win at the Mexico Open and made 17 cuts.
Matthieu Pavon: Entered 19 events, winning once and finishing an impressive 17th in the FedExCup, the only rookie to qualify for the TOUR Championship.
This contest is less of a runaway than the POY race. Dunlop made history, which was very cool to see. Pavon was solid, being the only rookie to play in Atlanta. However, standings beat history in this case, which will give the nod to the Frenchman, Matthieu Pavon.
Voting closes on December 4, with winners announced by the end of the year.
Brendon Elliott, a distinguished PGA Professional, is best known for his dedication to the growth and development of junior golf. With nearly three decades of experience, Elliott has been recognized multiple times as one of the best instructors, both regionally and nationally.
Elliott's crowning achievement was being named the 2017 PGA of America National Youth Player Development Award Winner, a testament to his exceptional skills and dedication. He is the founder of Little Linksters, an award-winning youth golf academy and nonprofit that works with kids of all abilities to help them develop a passion for golf. His innovative teaching methods and love for the game have made significant impacts on students and the broader golfing community.
Additionally, Brendon, a Golf Writers Association of America member, has become a renowned freelance golf writer, further solidifying his position as a top professional in the industry.
