Doug Ghim comes close to breaking 60, shares lead at RSM Classic

Field Level Media|published: Thu 20th November, 18:43 2025

Doug Ghim reacts to his missed putt on the 18th green that would have helped him take sole posession of first place instead of a three-way-tie during the first day of the RSM Classic PGA golf tournament at the Seaside Course, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025, in St. Simons Island, Ga. A field of 156 golfers began vying to the win the final official PGA Tour event of the season. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]

Doug Ghim, Davis Thompson and the Philippines' Rico Hoey are tied atop the first-round leaderboard Thursday at the RSM Classic, the finale of the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup Fall series.

Ghim, Thompson and Hoey stand at 10 under par after the first day of the event at Sea Island Golf Club in St. Simons Island, Ga.

Ghim played the par-70 Seaside Course on Thursday and threatened a 59 thanks to a late string of birdies before settling for a 60. Thompson and Hoey began with the par-72 Plantation Course and carded 62s.

They trio is just one stroke ahead of Andrew Putnam and Andrew Novak, who fired 9-under 61s at the Seaside Course. All golfers will play one round at each course before the 36-hole cut.

This is the final official tournament of 2025 and the final opportunity for players to get inside the top 100 in the points race to guarantee full status on tour for 2026. Ghim (No. 125) and Putnam (No. 119) are among those who stand to benefit from a strong finish.

Ghim, seeking his first PGA Tour victory, put up five birdies on each nine, including a four-birdie run at Nos. 14-17. After he got his 13-foot birdie putt to fall at the par-3 17th, he was one birdie away from breaking 60 but missed a 20-footer at the final green.

Tied at 8 under are Michael Thorbjornsen, Max McGreevy, Quade Cummins, Matthew Riedel and Canada's Ben Silverman, all of whom played the Plantation Course first.

--Field Level Media

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