The dash for the cash, PGA-Tour style
The FedEx playoffs are over. Tiger is back in his cage for the year, but for the majority of the tour players, this is the part of the season that may be most important, as they make a dash for the cash.
Dubbed the “Fall Series”, and previously known as “The Fall Finish” by the PGA-Tour marketing department, it is a key for many tour players to get to the top-125 in money winnings in order to keep a full exemption, or to the top-150, to keep some status on the tour. The fear of going back to the tour qualifying events (Q-School) separates the players from the clerks.
Big moves this fall so far are Mike Allen from 155th-89th, Ryan Armour, and Jesper Parnevik from 138th to 94th with his second place finish in a playoff loss to Justin Leonard @ the Valero Texas Open. Who will make the next big move?
What makes for a lot of excitement is the fact that most of the top-30 players are home for the year and that means the guys in the 100-140 range will have more shots at a check. Hence, there is more movement than usual in this range. It’s fun to root for these guys.
There are other levels of importance that may get a player into invitational events, or even the Masters or the U.S. Open. Being in the top-100 is important, as well as the top-30 for invites. It is also an important level for sponsor dollars that it may earn a player.
The Nationwide Tour has its own dash, with players hoping to earn a top-25 money list placement, which will move them “up-stairs” to the big tour. Other finishes outside the top-25 can maintain a spot on the Nationwide Tour, or a spot in the final Q-School.
Keep an eye on Colt Knost the 2007 U.S. Amateur champion. Colt just turned pro, and made the cut in his first event, the Texas Open. He earned $10,683 with his T-49th finish, and is hoping to earn his way to the tour in 2008, by playing his way into the top 125, in the last few events. This will take about $750,000. A win would do it, but a top-5 and a top-10 finish in 2 events, may do it as well.
As for the Champions Tour, I’ve said this is the hardest job to get, and the hardest to keep. Only about the top-45 money winners earn an exemption to the following year unless you have all-time money winning status, or several tour wins. It’s even tougher to get on tour through the Champions Q-School, with only 4-spots exempt and another 4 as alternate spots.
Want to play the tour? It can be a great life when you reach the top-10, but getting there is a tough hill to climb, and for most players, it’s a climb you must make every year.
