Purse reduction at Nationwide Players
BY Bruce Young | Nationwide Tour | 2009 Nationwide Tour Players Cup | Preview | 24 Jun 2009
The Nationwide Tour was to be playing for a US$1 million dollar purse this week in Bridgeport, West Virginia but a late sponsor withdrawal has meant that the prize pool has been reduced to US$600,000.
The tournament has been played at this venue, the Pete Dye Golf Club since 2004 although it was only in 2008 that it became the Nationwide Tour Players Cup.
Nearly every one of the leading Nationwide Tour players is in the field. The notable exception to this list is the money list leader, Michael Sim, who is taking a week off after such an impressive performance at the US Open last week where he finished as the leading Australian.
Also a surprise non-participant is the number three on the money list and New Zealand Open winner Alex Prugh who appeared to be getting back to his New Zealand form with two very good finishes of late. Prugh has recorded rounds of 65 on six occasions this year and one round of 64 and appears on the verge of a great career but he is elsewhere this week.
Garth Mulroy and Kevin Johnson the number two and three are in the field however as is last week’s runner up in Fort Smith Chris Tidland. Tidland also finished runner up in Georgia earlier this year and stands a good chance.
Last week’s winner Jason Enloe is in the field and a player who did quite well at the US Open last week, Jeff Brehaut could be buoyed by his good showing in New York. Importantly in Enloe’s favour is that he won this event in 2006.
Cameron Percy is the second highest ranked Australia on the money list and with the form he is in right now, he stands a very good chance. Percy has contended on several occasions already this season and another good week can be expected.
David McKenzie, Scott Gardiner, Brad Iles, Andrew Buckle, Won Joon Lee, Adam Bland, Mark Hensby, Andre Stolz, Phil Tataurangi, Paul Gow, Steve Alker, Alistair Presnell, Steve Bowditch and Andrew Bonhomme all get their chance.
Tataurangi has finally found form in the past two events after a long time in the wilderness. Tataurangi finished 8th last week in Fort Smith and, despite missing the cut at the Knoxville event, recorded a second round of 66 that week.
