Children's Miracle Network Classic / PGA TOUR / November 6-9, 2008
 

Our focus this week will be on Brian Gay and his quest for status among the PGA TOUR's Top 30 Money Winners. At stake in this final event are 2009 invitations to The Masters and the U.S. Open.

I would love to add the British Open to that list, but alas, it simply ain't the case. In the news, you will read the following press release:

"New entry criteria are being introduced for next year’s Open at Turnberry to guarantee places in the Championship for the top 30 players from both the European and PGA Tour."

So, Top 30 Money Winner status gains an exemption into the British Open, right? Uh . . . not so fast.

The Top 30 European players are determined by the Order of Merit, the European version of the U.S. Money Winners. The Top 30 U.S. players, on the other hand, are determined by the Top 30 in the FedExCup points system (the qualifiers for the TOUR Championship). So, we now have an 'apples and oranges' situation: The Order of Merit determined by money earned . . . and the FedExCup standings determined by points earned.

If the FedExCup and the Money List were more closely aligned, all would be well. However, the FedExCup ranking is heavily weighted toward the last three tournaments in the Series and away from 'half points' contests played 'opposite' more 'worthy' events throughout the year. Both these constraints divorce the FedExCup rankings away from the Money List.

So, since Brian did not make the TOUR Championship in the FedExCup Playoff Series, he cannot achieve British Open exemption status via the Top 30 money winners.

Go figure.

:scratch:

Perhaps BG will be able to get into The Open via his world ranking.

From the R&A's website:

He could also try via International Final Qualifying:

I'll be at Turnberry to watch Paddy go for three in a row. Hopefully BG and Yoda will be there too!

Life was so much simplier when everything was taken off the Money List/Order of Merit.
International Qualifying is a good way to go. Turnberry is not that far away from me.......:golf:
Alex

'The Shadow' Knows
 

If Brian's there, I'm there.

:salut:

Thats good to hear Yoda.

Alex, I'll be sure to be in touch so we can meet up next July!

:dance:

Get Ready To Rumble!
 

Brian Gay has earned $2,205,513 YTD and presently sits at #30 on the PGA TOUR Money List. Top 30 status is especially coveted because it guarantees an invitation to both The Masters and the U.S. Open for those not otherwise qualified. So, this is an all-important week for Brian, and there is no room to spare.

Interestingly, of the 'men in front', neither Hunter Mahan (#29 / $3,342 ahead) nor D. J. Trahan (#26 / $98,855 ahead) are in the field. So, we know exactly what needs to be done to pass them.

Of those five nearest behind, neither Sean O'Hare (#34 / $115,656 behind) nor Andres Romero (#35 / $140,901 behind) are in the field. That leaves Ken Duke (#31 / $266 behind); J.B. Holmes (#32 / $73,020); and Woody Austin (#33 / $81,392 behind) as the most dangerous to Our Hero. Of course, a win or a very high finish by any of the trailing players (up to about #60) could be enough to leapfrog that player into the Top 30.

This is going to be a real slugfest. And, for Brian, it begins tomorrow at 7:35 a.m.

Go get'em, Champ!

:boxing:

Of course!!
Good luck to Brian this week! I really hope he can sign off the year in big style!
Alex

What a Year!
 

Stay cool & in the moment Brian.....everything else is automatic for you....look forward to seeing you in person at Riviera CC in '09 (& on TV in the Masters):)

Lynn, did Brian speak to you about his mind set going into this?

I would imagine the plan ought to be 'go out and win'. Once he plays with one eye on what others are doing around him he is asking for disaster.

Good luck BG!

Letting Go
 

I called Brian from Dallas on Saturday a week ago. He had just missed his third cut in a row (at the Frys.com Open) by one shot. I'm not going to go into the details of what was said, but suffice it to say that we were both pleased with his T-7 finish the following week at the Ginn sur Mer.

Regarding Brian's focus this week, I assure you he knows what is at stake. But, once the bell rings, he will be into his own game, as always, and will let the chips fall where they may.

:salut:

+1 73 in first round smoke 'em tomorrow BG

No Joy In Mudville
 

Despite a fine 68 (-4) today, Brian missed the 5-under cut by two. Ken Duke, currently #31 on the Money List and only $266 behind Brian, is playing well and currently is among the leaders. So, it looks like Top 30 status is out for this year.

Nevertheless, it has been a wonderful year for Brian. It included his first win and is his best yet. Look for Brian next in January as he tees it up in Hawaii with the other 2008 PGA TOUR winners at the Mercedes Championship.

:salut:

These Guys ARE Good!
 

Not to be lost in all this . . . John Riegger is having a fine tournament. He followed Thursday's fine 68 (-4) with today's 69 (-3). Through 36, his 137 total (-7) is T-40.

I cannot emphasize enough the caliber of this golf. The field is tightly bunched: One shot less (one-half shot per round) is T-27, and two shots less (one shot per round) is T-19. And, more than likely, only one-quarter shot per round will separate the winner from the runner-up.

All of which, of course, is what keeps these guys up at night and on the practice ground the next day.

:salut:

A valiant effort on Brains part. What a spectacular year. :clap:

Lynn, what is the 'off-season' like for a PGA pro?

Will Brian take a few weeks well earned R&R or will he get straight back into it?

Family Time
 

I've not talked with Brian about his year-end plans. However, for those professionals not in demand for 'silly season' money, the off-season is pretty much that . . . "off".

Last year, he worked on his physical conditioning program, and it wouldn't surprise me if that will be the case again this year.

Journeyman's Journey
 

John Riegger closed today with a fine 68 (-4). His 68-69-74-68=278 (-9) put him in 47th place and earned $13,340.

The Greats of the Game will always be great, and The Greatest among these will be debated wherever golfers gather. For my money, Bobby Jones got it right when he said: "All you can ask of any man is to beat everybody who was around when he was around."

In complement, just behind these sainted few is the host of others whose lives and careers rest just a few shots back. This has always been the case, but now more than ever, the gap between the great and the near-great is quite narrow.

Indeed, the caliber and depth of non-winning golf on today's tours around the world is astonishing.

:salut:

Brian's Tour Stats for 2008
 

Watching Brian Gay play golf in person is a real treat... I can hardly wait to see him on the West Coast & in LA in 09. And Yoda has graciously made that possible the last few years.

A review of Brian's stats to date for 08 is interesting...obviously this has been his best year on the PGA Tour. Without basically making no more cuts than prior years, this year Brian won his first title and has had 6 top tens and 12 top twenty five finishes. Brian is 31st in overall earnings and 2nd on Tour with a scoring average of 70.11. He ranks 7th in putting average and putts per round. An eye opening stat series is Brian ranks 4th in scoring average before the cut (70.03), 12th in round 3 (69.70)and T58 in round 4 (70.80).

This is truely a brutal game at this level of quality....if Brian could shave a stroke off his scores on Sundays he would vault big time up the leader board. :)

By winning and getting in the Mercedes, that will give him a very nice head start on the money list from next year. He shot play that video game the Chopra did.

The FedEx didn't seem to be fair, because he played better then Billy Mayfair but didn't get into the Tour Championship which was guarantee of $112,000.