Friday’s second round at the RSM Classic produced a cutline for the ages. The cut settled at 7-under par, sitting just one stroke shy of tying the lowest in PGA Tour history. Twenty-one players fired rounds of 7-under or better, turning Sea Island into a birdie fest that pushed the projected cutline three strokes lower than expected.

While bubble players battled for their professional lives in Georgia, elite talent cruised toward a $4 million payday at the CME Group Tour Championship in Naples. The contrast painted a vivid picture of professional golf’s extremes. Championship pressure takes different forms—survival mode versus excellence on display.

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Day’s best moments steal the show in Naples

Friday at Tiburon Golf Club delivered spectacular shots that had commentators buzzing. Auston Kim provided the day’s signature moment on the par-4 second hole. Her pitch-perfect approach landed on the green and rolled straight into the cup for an eagle. Commentators described it as something even Nelly Korda couldn’t pull off that day.

Kim started her round with a birdie on the first, then immediately followed with an eagle. She didn’t think it would actually roll in. Despite a double bogey and bogey later in the round, she finished with 5-under 67.

Madelene Sagstrom showcased pure athleticism on the 16th hole. She found herself in a steep bunker with a bad lie. Rather than attempt a conventional swing, she dropped onto one knee and reached down to execute the shot. Commentators called it a yoga-style escape that demonstrated exceptional creativity.

Jeeno Thitikul delivered a masterclass worthy of the world No. 1. The defending champion fired a bogey-free 63, making nine birdies. She reached 14-under par, building a three-shot lead. Her birdie barrage included four consecutive birdies from holes 8-11. The Thai star putted for birdie on every single hole on Friday.

The stakes extend beyond the $4 million winner’s check. Thitikul chases the Rolex Player of the Year award while defending her title. Her scoring average of 68.877 sits just 0.177 shots behind Annika Sorenstam’s single-season LPGA record.

Nelly Korda bounced back with a career-best 64 at this venue. The world No. 2 matched Thitikul’s nine birdies, suffering one bogey on the seventh. She jumped 36 spots to reach 9-under, five shots back. Yeah, just get it going on the weekend for sure, Korda said. I mean, it depends on the pins. So just being consistent with my ball striking and hoping some putts fall.

Brooke Henderson and Minjee Lee share fifth at 9-under. Lydia Ko sits at 7-under while Charley Hull stands at 6-under heading into the weekend.

While elite players showcase their skills in Florida, a different kind of pressure gripped Sea Island Golf Club.

Bubble drama reaches boiling point at Sea Island

The 7-under cutline made history as the second-lowest in PGA Tour records. The projected cutline started Friday at 4-under or 5-under. Perfect conditions created a scoring explosion that shattered expectations.

Beau Hossler delivered the day’s most clutch performance. The No. 103 player fired a 4-under 32 on his opening nine. He made a crucial birdie on the par-5 eighth, his 17th hole, to reach 7-under. On his final hole, he hit his approach into the bunker then executed a nervy up-and-down to make the cut on the number. Always nerve-racking to try and make a cut, Hossler reflected, but just knowing that there’s so much more needed.

Matt Wallace surged from two shots outside the cutline with a 6-under 66 to reach 9-under. I feel like I deserve to be out on this tour, Wallace declared. Adam Hadwin posted a 6-under 64 to make the cut at 7-under.

Joel Dahmen missed by two shots at 5-under. The No. 117 player welcomed his second child over the weekend. After opening with 69, he bogeyed his second hole on Seaside and couldn’t recover. Takumi Kanaya (No. 99) and Danny Walker (No. 97) also missed, now facing an anxious weekend from home.

The top 100 in FedExCup standings earn full 2026 status. Players ranked 101-110 receive conditional status. Matt Kuchar (No. 113) made the cut at 7-under. Greyson Sigg rocketed up with a 10-under 62, jumping from No. 135 to No. 123.

Elite performance met survival mode across two tournaments on Friday. Thitikul defends her lead and chases history while bubble players need career-defining weekends to secure their cards.