Saturday, May 25, 2013
FAIRFIELD-SUISUN, CALIFORNIA
99 CENTS

Pressure is on for players trying to keep PGA Tour cards

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The final PGA Tour event of the year is a lot like the final stage of Q-school, one last chance for so many players to earn their full cards for next year. The field at Disney looks like Q-school, too.

The only player from the top 50 in the world ranking is Robert Garrigus, who checks in at No. 42.

Only five players from the top 50 on the PGA Tour money list are at Disney — Garrigus (26), Ben Curtis (30), Jonas Blixt (35), Brendon de Jonge (39) and Charlie Wi (45). And six players have won on tour this year — two against weak fields in the Fall Series (Blixt and Tommy Gainey) and two against even weaker fields at opposite-field events (Scott Stallings and George McNeill). The others are Curtis at the Texas Open and Ted Potter Jr. at the Greenbrier Classic.

For sheer entertainment, the best bet might be at one of Disney’s theme parks.

For the pressure of trying to perform with so much at stake, few regular PGA Tour events can match the tension of a golf tournament held on the expansive property of a resort that bills itself as the “Happiest Place on Earth.”

The Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic gets under way Thursday on the Palm and Magnolia courses at Disney, with the opening two rounds a pro-am format.

The top 125 on the money list keep full exempt status on the PGA Tour next year, with Billy Mayfair smack on the bubble at No. 125. He has a lead of $2,665 over Trevor Immelman, who already is safe next year from his five-year exemption for winning the 2008 Masters. Mayfair is only $3,504 clear of No. 127 Gary Christian, a 41-year-old rookie from England.

“It’s kind of nice to get to that stage now where you have to perform,” Christian said Wednesday. “This is it. You’ve got one more chance, and do good or you go home.”

Or in his case, go to the California desert at the end of the month for Q-school.

Christian felt remarkably relaxed. His wife and children were joining him Wednesday night and planned a week at the theme parks. Christian, who once held a job selling knives door-to-door, took a long time to reach the big leagues. He was on the Dakota Tour for six years, and the Nationwide Tour for seven years. He still appreciates the perks of the PGA Tour, from the courtesy cars to the pristine condition of golf courses like Pebble Beach and Bethpage Black.

The highlight of the year was playing a practice round with Tom Watson at The Greenbrier, and playing the third round with Tiger Woods at The Barclays. The lowlight? He couldn’t think of anything, except for the usual aggravation that golf can cause on any level.

No stress?

“I’m sure there is if you’ve been on tour for 10 years,” he said. “I can understand if you’ve been used to making seven figures every year and you’re on the outside look in, or on the inside hoping to hang in there. I’ve really got nothing to lose. If it all goes wrong, I assure you my wife still loves me and the kids still love me. And it just allow me to go and play with hopefully a lighter heart and go play great.

“I think it makes a man of you if I come through this and get into that top 125,” he said. “Then I think going forward, you use that as something very positive to fall on where you have one opportunity to perform and you did.”

These guys on the bubble have had more than one opportunity.

The players from No. 120 to No. 130 on the money list averaged 25 starts this year, and their own play put them in this predicament. Everyone through No. 122 — that would be 48-year-old Jeff Maggert — have enough of a cushion that they should be safe. That’s not the case for Kevin Chappell at No. 123 or Rod Pampling at No. 124.

And that’s certainly not the case for those beyond No. 125, such as Justin Leonard.

Leonard is one of the more under-appreciated players on tour. He got his card out of college without ever having to go to Q-school, and he has never come particularly close to losing his card. Despite being a peashooter in an era of bazookas, his 12 wins include the British Open and The Players Championship, and he lost two majors in playoffs.

But this has been a year to forget, and Leonard finds himself at No. 138 going into the last tournament.

Leonard had to be told that.

“I’ve made it a serious effort not to look,” he said. “I don’t know where I am. I don’t know what I need to do — just go out and play and do the best I can every day.”

Asked for his thoughts on the week, the Texan smiled.

“The kids are having a blast,” he said. “Usual Disney week, shuttling between the parks and the golf course.”

Leonard found himself consumed with the money list in the late spring, when he wasn’t getting much out of his game. He stopped worrying about results and tied for fifth at the Reno-Tahoe Open and tied for 19th at Greensboro. But when he returned six weeks later and opened with a 64 in Las Vegas, he again was consumed of trying to make the most out of a good start and stumbled.

“I got caught up in what I needed to do,” Leonard said.

He’s not that bad off. If he loses his card, Leonard is No. 9 in career earnings at just over $31 million, and he can use a pair of one-time exemptions for being in the top 25 and the top 50 on the money list. He plans on using only one of them, and that depends on this week.

The Associated Press

The Associated Press

LEAVE A COMMENT

Discussion | No comments

The Daily Republic does not necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post. Read our full policy

.

Solano News

 
Aviation archaeologist uncovers county’s flying past

By Ian Thompson | From Page: A1 | Gallery

Delta Protection Commission opposes state Delta plan

By Barry Eberling | From Page: A1

 
 
Reported trespassers spark grass fire

By Danny Bernardini | From Page: A3

 
Wolk has four measures passed by committee

By Danny Bernardini | From Page: A3

 
Another Lake Berryessa recreation area available

By Barry Eberling | From Page: A3

Closures aplenty for Memorial Day

By Danny Bernardini | From Page: A3

 
Chili Cook Off benefits Solano SPCA

By Amy Maginnis-Honey | From Page: A3

Man flees cops, arrested for alleged marijuana sales

By Heather Ah San | From Page: A4

 
 
Fairfield police log Thursday, May 23, 2013

By John Glidden | From Page: A12

The amazing human brain

By Scott Anderson | From Page: B12

 
Flag fever: Joe Morin celebrates America every day

By Amy Maginnis-Honey | From Page: B12 | Gallery

 
Weather for Saturday, May 25, 2013

By Daily Republic staff | From Page: B13

.

US / World

 
Company: Bay Bridge bolts made to exact specs

By The Associated Press | From Page: A4

Woman gets 8 years for kidnapping granddaughter

By The Associated Press | From Page: A4

 
Damage reported from magnitude-5.7 quake in Calif.

By The Associated Press | From Page: A4

PG&E calls $2.25B fine for deadly blast excessive

By The Associated Press | From Page: A6

 
Arellano Felix drug cartel leader pleads guilty

By The Associated Press | From Page: A6

BART to consider lifting rush-hour bike ban

By The Associated Press | From Page: A6

 
Calif. plastic ocean debris bill dies in committee

By The Associated Press | From Page: A6 | Gallery

Obama’s drone rules leave unanswered questions

By The Associated Press | From Page: A8

 
Trucker bumps I-5 bridge, sees tragedy behind him

By The Associated Press | From Page: A8 | Gallery

No bail for Pa. parents in faith-healing death

By The Associated Press | From Page: A8 | Gallery

 
Syrian regime OKs peace talks amid skepticism

By The Associated Press | From Page: A9

After vote on gay youth, Scouts face more turmoil

By The Associated Press | From Page: A9

 
Can Tornado Alley become safer? Yes, within limits

By The Associated Press | From Page: A9 | Gallery

Soldier’s slaying prompts UK security review

By The Associated Press | From Page: A9

 
Toronto mayor denies he smokes crack cocaine

By The Associated Press | From Page: A9

Afghan Taliban attack aid group, 2 guards killed

By The Associated Press | From Page: A9

 
Arias foreman: Sentencing decision unfair to jury

By The Associated Press | From Page: A9

Judge: Ariz. sheriff’s office profiles Latinos

By The Associated Press | From Page: A9

 
.

Opinion

Editorial Cartoon for May 25, 2013

By Daily Republic Syndicated Content | From Page: A11

 
College may cost you more than you know

By Deon Price | From Page: A11

Cheers, jeers for the week of May 19-25, 2013

By Daily Republic | From Page: A11

 
Marsy’s Law is working well

By Thomas Elias | From Page: A11

Thank you to NorthBay nurses and doctors

By Letter to the Editor | From Page: A11

 
.

Living

Today in History for May 25, 2013

By The Associated Press | From Page: A2

 
Community calendar Saturday, May 25, 2013

By John Glidden | From Page: A2

My sisters are really angry that Mom’s paying me to be her caregiver

By Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar | From Page: B7

 
Horoscopes for May 25, 2013

By Holiday Mathis | From Page: B7

.

Entertainment

TVGrid

By Daily Republic Syndicated Content | From Page: A5

 
Latest ‘Bachelorette’ won’t say if she’s engaged

By The Associated Press | From Page: A5 | Gallery

.

Sports

Young’s 3-run homer gives A’s 6-5 win over Astros

By The Associated Press | From Page: B1

 
Tim Lincecum roughed up by Rockies again

By The Associated Press | From Page: B1

Mustangs, Bulldogs clean up at SJS Masters finals

By Mike Corpos | From Page: B1 | Gallery

 
Sharks try to shrug off Game 5 defeat

By The Associated Press | From Page: B1

Bayern faces Dortmund in Champions League final

By The Associated Press | From Page: B1

 
Grizzlies, Memphis ready to ‘believe’ vs. Spurs

By The Associated Press | From Page: B2

Pacers steal Game 2 from Heat, 97-93

By The Associated Press | From Page: B2

 
McIlroy, Donald miss cut at BMW PGA Championship

By The Associated Press | From Page: B3

Bowie Young, Cavalleri tied in the Bahamas

By The Associated Press | From Page: B3

 
Kuchar leads Colonial when 2nd round suspended

By The Associated Press | From Page: B3

Cochran, Perry tied for lead in Senior PGA

By The Associated Press | From Page: B3

 
Defending champ Keselowski tries to build on title

By The Associated Press | From Page: B3

Atlas of Indianapolis: Carpenter on pole at Indy

By The Associated Press | From Page: B3

 
NYC lawsuit alleging Favre sent racy texts settled

By The Associated Press | From Page: B4

Roger Federer, always at Grand Slam tournaments

By The Associated Press | From Page: B4

 
Bears to retire Ditka’s No. 89

By The Associated Press | From Page: B4

Local sports for Saturday and Sunday, May 25-26, 2013

By Daily Republic staff | From Page: B5

 
Sports on TV for Saturday and Sunday, May 25-26, 2013

By Daily Republic staff | From Page: B5

Friday’s 19th stage of Giro canceled due to snow

By The Associated Press | From Page: B13

 
Saratoga marks 150 years of thoroughbred racing

By The Associated Press | From Page: B13

.

Business

Home Style: Create artful displays with collections

By Mary Carol Garrity | From Page: C2

 
US rate on 30-year mortgages rises to 3.59 percent

By The Associated Press | From Page: C2

Candice Tells All: Basement fireplace becomes focal point of retreat

By Scripps Howard News Service | From Page: C3

 
Real estate transactions for May 25, 2013

By Daily Republic | From Page: C3

Summer travel forecast: Better, but no blowout

By The Associated Press | From Page: B10

 
Furlough Friday: Unpaid day off for many in gov’t

By The Associated Press | From Page: B10

Netflix looks to hook subscribers with ‘Arrested’

By The Associated Press | From Page: B10 | Gallery

 
.

Obituaries

Anthony Reed

By John Glidden | From Page: A4

 
Chand R. Sharma

By John Glidden | From Page: A4

Jeffrey E. Woodhouse

By John Glidden | From Page: A4, 1 Comment

 
Charles E. Brooks Jr.

By John Glidden | From Page: A4

Destiny Saucedo

By John Glidden | From Page: A4

 
.

Comics

Get Fuzzy

By Daily Republic Syndicated Content | From Page: B6

 
Zits

By Daily Republic Syndicated Content | From Page: B6

Beetle Bailey

By Daily Republic Syndicated Content | From Page: B6

 
Rose is Rose

By Daily Republic Syndicated Content | From Page: B6

Baldo

By Daily Republic Syndicated Content | From Page: B6

 
For Better or Worse

By Daily Republic Syndicated Content | From Page: B6

Sally Forth

By Daily Republic Syndicated Content | From Page: B6

 
Garfield

By Daily Republic Syndicated Content | From Page: B6

Dilbert

By Daily Republic Syndicated Content | From Page: B6

 
Fort Knox

By Daily Republic Syndicated Content | From Page: B6

Peanuts

By Daily Republic Syndicated Content | From Page: B6

 
Blondie

By Daily Republic Syndicated Content | From Page: B6

Pickles

By Daily Republic Syndicated Content | From Page: B6

 
Frank and Ernest

By Daily Republic Syndicated Content | From Page: B6

B.C.

By Daily Republic Syndicated Content | From Page: B6

 
Wizard of Id

By Daily Republic Syndicated Content | From Page: B6

Sudoku

By Daily Republic Syndicated Content | From Page: B7

 
Word Sleuth

By Daily Republic Syndicated Content | From Page: B7

Cryptoquote

By Daily Republic Syndicated Content | From Page: B7

 
Crossword

By Daily Republic Syndicated Content | From Page: B7

Bridge

By Daily Republic Syndicated Content | From Page: B7