Duval fails to secure top-125 spot, but he'll still be around

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I do believe David Duval when he says he's probably not going to q-school. I don't believe him, however, when he says his game is back. Of course, Duval's definition of back might not be that of anyone else's. That's Duval. He's a different sort of cat.

But it's hard to argue with results. At some point, no matter how well you're hitting the ball, that's what ultimately tells the story. And for Duval, they just weren't there. Not before the U.S. Open, where he finished in a tie for second, and not after it.

Duval missed seven of his last eight cuts, including the final event of the Fall Series, last week's Children's Miracle Network Classic, where he shot rounds of 76 and 73 -- his ninth and 10th rounds in the 70s in his last 11 rounds dating back to the Buick Open, the lone event he made a cut in since June and sixth and final cut made of 2009.

For final-round highlights from the Children's Miracle Network Classic, click here.

Where does all that leave Duval? Without a PGA TOUR card after finishing outside the top 125 on the money list.

"I feel that the overall picture of the year, I feel like it was mostly successful," Duval said after Disney. "I talked a lot early on in the year about coming back, building the confidence back that I had for so long, and I feel like for the most part I did that."

Confidence is one thing, playing well is another. Not that Duval is entirely out of options. He'll have plenty of sponsor's exemptions in 2010. "I'd like to think that the relationships I've built up for 14, 15 years out here with the events I go to year in and year out would show me a little love if I need it," Duval said.

For more on the top 125, click here.

Stock up

Nicholas Thompson: After a missed cut in Las Vegas, Thompson dropped to 145th on the money list. Two events later, he ended the year at No. 123 following a tie for eighth and a tie for 11th. Strange as it sounds, he may have benefited from the Viking Classic being canceled. Money list: 123 (132 last week) Jimmy Walker: Conversely, Walker, stuck on 130th on the money list, was a guy who was almost hurt by the cancellation of the Viking Classic. Instead, he was one of only two to play his way into the top 125 at Disney -- Thompson was the other -- with a tie for 15th. Money list: 123 (130 last week) Rich Beem: A second-round 73 nearly sent Beem into a tailspin before a Friday night call to his coach helped turn things around for the weekend, when he shot a pair of 68s. It was a wild finish for Beem (more in Quick 18), but in the end, he got to keep his card. Money list: 122 (124 last week)

Stock down

Todd Hamilton: Twelve of his last 14 rounds were in the 70s and as a result, Hamilton missed three of his last five cuts. A 28th-place finish at Disney wasn't enough, either. Up next: Q-school and/or playing in Europe, according to Hamilton. Money list: 133 (133 last week) Chris Riley: For the last seven weeks (six events), Riley hovered within five spots of the magic number of 125th on the money list. Sunday, he ran out of chances with a final-round 68 not enough to erase three straight rounds in the 70s at Disney. Money list: 129 (126 last week) Robert Garrigus: After rounds of 74-74 at Disney, Garrigus probably wishes the Children's Miracle Network was a washout, too. It wasn't, and a missed cut later Garrigus is headed back to q-school, where he finished eighth a year ago. Money list: 127 (123 last week)

Quick 18

Front Nine Back Nine One minute, he was in, another he was out. That was the nervous fun (well, fun in hindsight) that was Rich Beem's late Sunday afternoon, which he spent behind the 18th green and in the media center frantically trying to figure out his place on the money list. Woods, by the way, ranks third on Golf Inc.'s list of most powerful people in golf. The man he's chasing, Jack Nicklaus, is No. 1. Others include PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem (No. 6), Greg Norman (No. 10), Nick Faldo (No.14) and Arnold Palmer (No. 21). One guy who didn't have to worry about the money list, of course, was Stephen Ames, who had locked up his card long before his victory at Disney. That was Ames' fourth career victory on TOUR and first since 2007 at, you guessed it, Disney. Speaking of David Duval earlier, the last playoff at the Children's Miracle Network Classic came more than a decade ago when Duval beat David Frost to win the 1997 title. Ames got that win thanks to a final-round 64, the second-lowest final-round score by a winner on TOUR this year behind only Kenny Perry's 63 at the Travelers Championship. "This is like icing on the cake. The year was average," Ames said. Rickie Fowler saying it's been a long year was a little odd considering he played in just six TOUR events, but I like everything else I hear from the kid, who advanced straight to the final stage of q-school with two top-seven finishes followed by a tie for 40th at Disney. Ames' final-round 64 tied for the second-best final-round score by a winner on TOUR this season. Perry's 63 at the Travelers Championship was the best final-round score to win this season. Ames, 45, was also the second-oldest player to win on TOUR -- to Perry. Quote of the Week: "How did this year go for you? Obviously not as well as you like," someone asked of Todd Hamilton, who responded by saying, "You just answered it." In other words, 18 missed cuts in 29 events -- including a woeful nine of 12 down the stretch. Stat of the Week I: Ames' victory marked the 13th playoff on TOUR this year. The most in one year is 16, which came in 1988 and 1991. It was also the fourth-straight event in which there were extra holes. The record, in case you were wondering, is five, which was set in 1946. Kevin Streelman had a million reasons to smile last week. That's because he won $1 million for capturing the inaugural Kodak Challenge. Streelman clinched the crown by making a birdie on the designated hole, No. 17 at the Magnolia Course, in Friday's second round. Stat of the Week II: Ames recorded a round of 70 in both years he won at Disney -- the second round this year and the third round in 2007. In all the other years in the last decade, though, the winner of the Children's Miracle Network Classic has posted all four rounds in the 60s. In honor of Veterans Day, which was last week, it should be noted that the third annual Patriot Golf Day, held in Sept., raised nearly $2 million for the Folds of Honor Foundation, which provides educational opportunities for children and spouses of servicemen or women killed or disabled. Ames finishes his season 37th on the money list, which is his worst finish since 2005 when he was 83rd. How many guys would like to trade places with Ames, though, who earned over $2 million for the fourth consecutive season on TOUR? Rory McIlroy finally ended the suspense by announcing that he plans to play the TOUR in 2010. Not that there should have been much suspense considering he was already in for four majors, all the World Golf Championships events and a couple of other events. It's official -- no rookie winner this year, the first time that has happened on TOUR since since 1998. Steve Flesch won Rookie of the Year honors that year, with his highest finish a second at the Freeport-McDermott Classic. The TOUR's Player Advisory Council chose not to nominate anyone for Comeback Player of the Year, meaning that for the first time since the inception of the award in 1991, no player will be honored as such. Tiger Woods, David Duval and Tom Watson were the biggest possibilities. With his two-shot victory at the JBWere Masters, Tiger Woods has now won at least one tournament on every continent (except Antarctica). And judging by the massive turnout, hopefully more big events will be headed to Australia. Tweet of the Week: "The season is Over!!! Very much looking forward to some R and R back home in Scottsdale!!!" -- Kevin Streelman (@Streels54). As is Monday Backspin, until next week's special Year in Review edition.