July Look At Three Major USA Male Professional Golf Tours And Who Might Be Safe

That title blows chunks, I do admit. However, I have your attention, so read on.

Nationwide Tour…When does it ever come first? Today it does! Over the last four years, it has taken $196K, $193K, $178K, and $189K to make the top 25 and get a pass to the big tour. If we add $4K for usual upward spiral, $200K gets you through this year. The following ten guys are over that magical figure thus far:
1 1 Jarrod Lyle 15 $288,771
2 20 Colt Knost 12 $253,628
3 3 Rick Price 16 $251,387
4 2 Greg Chalmers 15 $249,761
5 5 Darron Stiles 17 $245,291
6 4 David Mathis 15 $244,103
7 6 Casey Wittenberg15 $229,467
8 7 Jeff Klauk 16 $224,615
9 8 Kris Blanks 15 $212,068
10 9 Greg Owen 10 $202,602

There is a $20K gap between 10 and 11, the largest gap outside of #1 to #2. Interesting, huh?

Champions Tour…This one is a bit tricky, as they have that Tour Championship after the top 30 has been decided, so the top 30 tack on an extra chunk of quoin. #31 the past 4 years has been at $601K, $593K, $524K, and $593K. To be safe, let’s say that $610K will get you a Champs Tour card in 2009. Here we have 14 guys at $620K or better:
1 2 Bernhard Langer 13 $1,404,728
2 1 Jay Haas 12 $1,352,055
3 3 Loren Roberts 16 $1,196,593
4 4 Scott Hoch 16 $1,112,536
5 5 Jeff Sluman 15 $919,705
6 6 Denis Watson 17 $816,900
7 7 John Cook 16 $781,080
8 8 Nick Price 11 $747,164
9 10 Lonnie Nielsen 17 $741,306
10 9 Mark Wiebe 17 $717,789
11 11 Tom Watson 6 $689,875
12 12 Andy Bean 14 $660,695
13 13 Scott Simpson 17 $636,031
14 14 Brad Bryant 15 $624,667

Finally, the PGA Tour. It took more than $722K, $658K, $624K, and $601K from 2004 on to finish above 126 and retain your card (without otherwise qualifying.) Let’s go with $800K as our magic number for 2008. Voila…uh, forget it. 85 guys are already above that number. If you want to know all 85 names, go here.