For many, Disney is last chance for 1 good week
Erik Compton and Tommy Gainey spent some time commiserating three Saturdays ago at the McGladrey Classic, exasperated with seasons that were solid but lacking anything special.
Some 24 hours later, Gainey’s scorching 10- under- par 60 left him celebrating his first PGA Tour victory.
“He shoots 60 and all of a sudden,” Compton said Wednesday, “it turns a year like I’ve had into an extraordinary year with a win.”
Hey, sometimes it only takes one. Problem is, for Compton and a few dozen others at Disney for the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic which starts Thursday, there’s only one tournament left.
“The year is not over,” said Compton, the Coral Gables pro who finally reached the PGA Tour after two heart transplants. But he’s 163rd on the money list, needing a top- 12 finish to keep some sort of playing status for next year.
Stress? Depends on your perspective. For Compton— who on Wednesday received the Babe Didriksen Zaharias Courage Award from the U. S. Sports Academy — this week still beats the reality of being in that hospital room awaiting surgery.
“It’s never over until it’s over,” he said. “I preach that off the golf course, so I should definitely preach that on the golf course.”
For others, only the Grand Floridian resort separates the Happiest Place on Earth from the most stressful place in golf.
“It’s all the attitude you play,” said Gary Christian, No. 127 in earnings. “Someone else might want to feel like they’ve got to hit balls until dark and worry for the whole week. I‘ m going to try not to do that.”
As a refresher, the critical numbers are 125 and 150. The top125 on the money list will keep full cards, able to enter all but the majors, World Golf Championship events and invitationals. Those from Nos. 126- 150 get limited status, getting starts only when the full members leave vacancies.
Now comes the twist: With the PGA Tour moving to a wraparound schedule next fall, the 2013 schedule is a half- dozen events shorter than usual. Events such as Disney and the McGladrey Classic were opportunities for lower- status guys to overcome a late start caused by lack of early- season spots.
Next year, the top 125 is based on the FedEx Cup standings — which will end its regular season in mid- August.
“I don’t think that [ 126- 150] category is going to be sitting in very good position,” said 1993 Disney champion Jeff Maggert, seeking to hold on at No. 122. “With the short season, you’re really going to be behind.”
Veteran Billy Mayfair sits on the bubble at No. 125. Typically, three or four guys manage to play their way in at Disney.
Gaineywasn’t insuch dire straits himself, standing 106th when he arrived at the McGladrey Classic. But he found magic in his final round, making seven consecutive 3s on Sea Island’s back nine to overcome a sevenshot deficit.
Gainey has a history of going low at Disney as well. Four years ago, a final- round 64 left him shy of catching DavisLove III for the victory but moved him inside the No. 150 mark.