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By John Maginnes
PGATOUR.com Correspondent

If the PGA TOUR had a draft, like other sports, then Bryce Molder would have been on TOUR five years ago. His amateur and collegiate career rivals the best in the modern game. He is one of just four men who have been selected first team All-American all four years of college. The others are Gary Hallberg, Phil Mickelson and his fellow Yellow Jacket, David Duval.

Befriended by Phil Mickelson, Bryce Molder is on the path to success. (Cohen/WireImage)

It is in Duval that we see the greatest similarity to Bryce Molder. Although David had the pedigree and talent to step right out onto the PGA TOUR it took him nearly two years to become a TOUR member. Once he became a member it was several more years before he found the winner's circle, although he was a contender nearly every week. Once the flood gates opened for David he rode the wave to the No. 1 spot in the world.

The road to the TOUR has taken even longer for Bryce. After graduating from Georgia Tech in 2001 he received a number of sponsor exemptions the following year. He played well enough in 2002 to gain a special temporary exemption on TOUR but was unable to finish in the top 125. Bryce spent the next four years on the Nationwide Tour learning how to turn passion and talent into a profession.

The lessons learned on the Nationwide Tour give Bryce an advantage that he wouldn't have had if success had come to him earlier. Many players manage to get their cards at the qualifying tournament only to return the following year frustrated and beaten from a year of missed cuts.

Bryce was well outside the top 20 going into the final full-field event on the Nationwide Tour in 2006 . He earned his first career Nationwide Tour victory that week in south Florida at the Miccosukee Championship and secured his PGA TOUR card.

For the first three days of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, Bryce has been paired with Phil Mickelson. Phil is playing with Harry You, CEO of Bearing Point and one of Phil's sponsors. Phil arranged for his usual partner, Charles Schwab (yes, that one), to be Bryce's partner and for the four to play together.

I spoke with Bryce before the round on Friday and he told me that he and Phil have gotten along well in a few practice rounds and that he was thrilled to be in the group. The two All-Americans apparently share some of the same representation, and the fit works well.

On the course there was plenty of conversation within the group. Phil and Bryce were laughing together walking off the first tee and the conversation continued throughout the day. Most conversations between golfers on the course are best left on the course so I did not ask either one of them about the topics. Imagine the conversations that you have in your group on Saturday morning, and you get pretty close, I would imagine.

More importantly, Bryce Molder looked completely within his element in front of the swelling crowds that collected at every tee and green to greet the No. 6 player in the world. Although the results did not bear out the effort, Bryce will likely look at this week as another learning experience. The opportunity to play with one of the game's best in a relaxed atmosphere is the kind of experience that makes a young player better.

There is no question that Bryce has all the tools required to become a top level PGA TOUR player. He has length and accuracy coupled with a solid short game. In addition, the seasoning that he has earned in his years on the Nationwide Tour could be enough to push him to the top of the PGA TOUR. Having the added support of a future World Golf Hall of Famer could be the final ingredient to the recipe for Bryce's success. It is always nice to have a hand, right- or left-handed.