Drama filled week at Tour Championship
BY Bruce Young | Nationwide Tour | 2009 Nationwide Tour Championship | Preview | 21 Oct 2009
The final act of a long Nationwide Tour season is played out this week at the Rees Jones designed Ralston Creek course at the Daniel Island Club in Charleston in South Carolina.
The venue is being used for this event for the first occasion although it will play host through until 2011. The facility also includes a Tom Fazio layout but it is the Ralston Creek course, built only three years ago, that will be the centre of attention this week.
The leading 60 players on the 2009 Nationwide Tour money list have earned their right to play this week’s event, all seeking one of the 2010 PGA Tour cards handed out at week’s end to the leading 25 players on the completed money list.
The other milestone for those not lucky enough to force their way inside the top 25 is to finish inside the top 40 as for those player between 26th and 40th they will advance directly to the final stage of PGA Tour qualifying. All players in this field however are guaranteed of full status on next year’s Nationwide Tour irrespective of what happens this week.
It is mathematically possible for any one of the 60 players in the field to secure a PGA Tour card, in fact the 60th ranked player leading into this week could finish inside the top 25 if he was to either win or finish runner up in the tournament. It is the wide range of permutations and variables that make this week one of the most intriguing and heart stopping of the year as players immediate futures are made or destroyed over the final few hours of the event.
Michael Sim leads the money list by a massive US$150,000 despite his being absent from several events over the last two months. In order for him to be toppled from his place atop the money list the number two ranked player, Chad Collins, would need to win this week and Sim would need to finish worse than a two way tie for 8th, third ranked player Blake Adams would need to win and Sim would need to finish worse than 13th or, if Derek Lamely won, Sim would need to finish outside the top 23. All these scenarios are possible but Sim’s position seems relatively safe.
It is those players around the bubble of 25th who are of course the most vulnerable. While the exact figure required to finish inside the top 25 is difficult to predict, it is looking increasingly likely that somewhere around US$180,000 – US$190,000 will be the mark which is significantly down on last year’s US$219,000. There are several reasons for this not the least of which is Sim’s own record breaking prize-money take to date.
From an Australasian perspective Michael Sim and Cameron Percy are safe in the knowledge that they are assured of PGA Tour cards for next season although the further up the money list they finish the better their chances of early season starts next season. In Sim’s case if he was finish the season as the leading player on the money list that honour offers a higher level of exemption category than those players finishing behind him so it is an important week for Sim. He already of course now enjoys PGA Tour status courtesy of his three wins this season.
It is at the other end of the chase for Tour cards where Australian attention is perhaps more focused. Alistair Presnell (25th), Scott Gardiner (26th), Andrew Buckle (27th) and Gavin Coles (28th) are all within striking distance of achieving that goal although this is very much a make or break week.
Adam Bland (35th), Bradley Iles (40th) Steve Alker (45th), Won Joon Lee (47th) and David McKenzie (51st) still have a chance with McKenzie the lowest placed needing a top three finish in this event if he is to have any chance.
The Tour Championship is always great theatre given the fortunes it potentially offers and this week looks like being no exception.
