Feb. 26, 2008
How important is it to win one of the two events Down Under? In the previous six years of Nationwide Tour play in Australia and New Zealand, 10 of the 12 winners have gone on to graduate to the PGA TOUR that season. Peter O'Malley, twice a winner in New Zealand, is the only player who failed to graduate to the TOUR after his victory since he didn't continue to play on the Nationwide Tour the remainder of the year.
Brian Gay's victory last week in Mexico was the 221st by a former Nationwide Tour player on the PGA TOUR.
Only one player had Top-10 finishes in both events Down Under?D.A. Points finished tied for fifth and tied for seventh in New Zealand and Australia, respectively.
Tee McCabe had his eagle eye working last week at the Moonah Classic. He made four eagles on the week?one in each round. The Nationwide Tour record for one tournament is five set by Chris Smith at the 1997 Cox Classic.
| How they're doing on TOUR |
| 2007 Nationwide Tour graduates |
| Nicholas Thompson |
51 |
1,313 |
T7, AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am |
| Jason Day |
55 |
1,241 |
6, AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am |
| Chez Reavie |
57 |
1,173 |
T5, Bob Hope Chrysler Classic |
| Matt Jones |
70 |
919 |
T17, Sony Open in Hawaii |
| James Driscoll |
86 |
645 |
T14, AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am |
| Patrick Sheehan |
90 |
616 |
6, Mayakoba Golf Classic at Riviera Maya |
| Roland Thatcher |
100 |
528 |
T9,Mayakoba Golf Classic at Riviera Maya |
| Nick Flanagan |
107 |
397 |
T9, Mayakoba Golf Classic at Riviera Maya |
| Marc Turnesa |
115 |
346 |
T22, Northern Trust Open |
| Jon Mills |
128 |
273 |
T34, FBR Open |
| Scott Sterling |
143 |
230 |
T36, Mayakoba Golf Classic at Riviera Maya |
| Chad Collins |
150 |
187 |
T25, Sony Open in Hawaii |
| Martin Laird |
153 |
183 |
T55, Sony Open in Hawaii |
| John Riegger |
157 |
170 |
T34, AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am |
| Richard Johnson |
T159 |
159 |
T30, FBR Open |
| Justin Bolli |
164 |
143 |
T48, Mayakoba Golf Classic at Riviera Maya |
| Kyle Thompson |
176 |
106 |
T50, Bob Hope Chrysler Classic |
| Michael Letzig |
181 |
94 |
T42, Mayakoba Golf Classic at Riviera Maya |
| Jimmy Walker |
190 |
79 |
T61, Sony Open in Hawaii |
| Tom Scherrer |
196 |
60 |
T50, Bob Hope Chrysler Classic |
| Ron Whittaker |
197 |
58 |
T36, Mayakoba Golf Classic at Riviera Maya |
| Paul Claxton |
200 |
56 |
T56, Bob Hope Chrysler Classic |
| Omar Uresti |
207 |
47 |
MDF, Buick Invitational |
| Brad Elder |
216 |
27 |
T63, Mayakoba Golf Classic at Riviera Maya |
| Brenden Pappas |
n/a |
n/a |
Has not made a cut in 2008 |
|