Levin uses setbacks to hone his game for the Big Show

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McKINNEY, Texas -- The scouting report was glowing -- in 2004.

Spencer Levin believes his struggles might have been for the best. (Ferrey/Getty Images)

Inside the Numbers

Spencer Levin in 2008

Category Total Rank Driving Distance 287.3 yds. 110 Driving Accuracy 72.30% 17 Greens in Regulation 72.16% 9 Sand Saves 42.86% 89 Scoring Average 70.44 14 Money Leaders $221,185 21

The kid had immense talent and a real presence. His golf shots resembled dialed-in laser beams. And that boisterous, club-tossing temper of his? Just showed he possessed a burning desire to succeed.

Then a funny thing happened to amateur darling Spencer Levin in June of 2005. He turned professional and went poof. Except for the occasional sponsor's exemption, he basically disappeared, another can't-miss kid falling victim to the burden of too much hype.

Forget about making that big splash on the PGA TOUR. He couldn't secure status or create a ripple on the Nationwide Tour. He was forced to play in obscurity where he could -- like the Canadian Tour and A.G. Spanos Tour for two seasons. Until 2007, that is, when he clawed his way through the PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament to gain an exemption on the 2008 Nationwide Tour.

Now take a gander at the 36-hole leader board at the Nationwide Tour Championship at Craig Ranch. There's Levin, locked in a tie for eighth at 7-under-par 135, four shots behind co-leaders Darron Stiles and Garrett Osborn.

And look at the Nationwide Tour money list. There's Levin inside 'The 25' at No. 21, a fact that makes his presence near the top at the Tour Championship that much more meaningful. Unless a perfect storm of financial surprises hits this $1 million event over the weekend, Levin, 24, finally will punch his ticket to the PGA TOUR for the 2009 season, almost five years after he burst onto the golf scene by finishing in a tie 13th at the 2004 U.S. Open, the best finish by an amateur in the last 37 years.

"I'm not there yet,'' a cautious Levin said after completing a second-round 69 Friday. "Ask me about this stuff Sunday. I'll be happy to answer that question then.''

Levin heard more than he wanted to about how he was safe was on the money list coming into the Nationwide Tour's season finale. He remained tight-lipped about his chances despite the fact that he was told no more than two players had ever been bumped out of The Big Show in the 15 previous events.

"There's such a big purse this year that there can still be a lot of movement and a lot of flip-flopping,'' he said. "And this tournament is far from over.''

Nevertheless, Levin, a slender Sacramento, Calif., native who rose to No. 2 in the world amateur ranking after his sterling '04 season, did what he had to in the first two rounds. He has performed solidly and putted even better, suggesting he is determined to leave nothing to chance.

"It feels good to be in this position,'' he said.

As well it should. Levin was still nibbling on humble pie through his first nine events this year. He made just two cuts and found himself buried in 131st position on the money list.

"I felt good physically and felt I played pretty well, but I don't think I was grinding and fighting for every shot,'' Levin said. "I think it was a matter of confidence.''

He began a steady climb up the money ladder in late May with a tie for 32nd at Melwood Prince George's County Open. But in his mind, the key to his year was a tie for fifth at the Bank of America Open the following week.

"That really settled me down,'' he said. "I gained confidence and just started playing my game.''

Levin was 34th on the money list by the end of August, and then he barged into 'The 25' with four consecutive top 10s, giving him a total of seven for the year. He rose as high as 17th, but lost four spots in the final two events of the regular season.

Friday's 69 could have been at least two shots lower saved for back-to-back errant drives on the 13th and 14th holes that led to a pair of bogeys. But he bounced back nicely with a pair of deuces on the par-3 15th and par-3 17th holes to remain within hailing distance of the lead.

Levin admitted the lean years in 2006 and 2007 were difficult to stomach at the time, but looking back now he realizes that had he qualified for the PGA TOUR sooner he might not have been ready.

"Not everyone makes it through q-school on their first tries,'' said Levin, whose game started showing promise again in 2007 when he won twice and finished second on the Canadian Tour money list. "So maybe things happened for the best. I've learned so much in those last two seasons. I'm a better player now for the experiences.''