Adamonis finds himself battling on and off course

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One month ago, Brad Adamonis lost his father to caner. This week, he'll try to secure his TOUR card at Disney.

Brad Adamonis is in a tough spot.

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Anyone interested in honoring the memory of Brad's father, donations can be made to: The Dave Adamonis Memorial Fund, The Development Office, MGH, 175 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA, 02114.

Ranked 162nd on the PGA TOUR's money list with just one event to go, Adamonis has to finish no worse than third at this week's Children's Miracle Network Classic to have a chance to move into the top 125 and keep his playing privileges for 2010.

Plus, he has to turn around what has been one of the most difficult seasons of his career with a bum left foot that required a cortisone shot last month and a hurting heart that will take forever to mend.

A month ago today, Adamonis lost his father, Dave, 63, after a four-year battle with cancer that was so severe and up-and-down, the elder Adamonis was given last rites by a priest three times as he fought off five forms of cancer.

So even though Adamonis is among those players outside the top 125 facing a pressure-packed week at the PGA TOUR's final event at Disney World, he's learned these last 48 months what truly is a tough spot.

"It's been real difficult because he wasn't feeling too good at the end," Adamonis said Tuesday of his father, who was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2005 even though he never was a smoker. His dad continued to coach the North Miami-based Johnson & Wales University golf team, a NAIA squad he built into a powerhouse that won the national title in 2005, until shortly before his death.

"He insisted on working almost to the end, making sure he helped the school make the transition," Brad said. "I didn't think it was a good idea, but it's what he wanted to do."

Golf was one of the ties that bound this family. Brad, 36, was introduced to the sport by his father and grandfather while growing up in Cumberland, R.I. His father started the popular U.S. Challenge Cup for junior golfers in New England before moving to South Florida. (Brad's brother, Dave Jr., took over the Challenge Cup while he started assisting his father at Johnson & Wales.)

Brad's golf career was one of slow-but-steady development. After earning All-Mid-American Conference honors his senior year at Miami (Ohio) University, Adamonis turned professional in 1996. It took him six years before he became a full-time member of the Nationwide Tour and another six years before he made it to the PGA TOUR after tying for ninth at q-school in 2007.

Adamonis had to battle to keep his playing privileges last year, finishing 124th on the money list after missing his last three cuts. A runner-up finish at the John Deere Classic, where he lost a three-way playoff to Kenny Perry, helped him remain on golf's biggest stage.

Adamonis got off to a solid start this year with a tie for ninth at his first tournament, the 50th Bob Hope Classic hosted by Arnold Palmer. But that proved to be his only top-10 in 24 starts this year. He earned a paycheck in 10 of his first 15 events, but has played on the weekend just once since mid-June.

Adamonis, who now lives in Hallandale, Fla., has only teed it up one time since mid-August as he spent more time with his father and also dealt with the foot issues. But when he's on the course for those four-hour rounds, even if it's just for practice, you know where his mind goes.

"When I'm playing, I always think about him a lot, even when I don't think about him," Brad said. "He trained the way I think on the golf course. He was always preaching 'PPO' -- patience pays off."

The younger Adamonis has other health issues besides his foot. He occasionally suffers from vertigo, an illness that can make him dizzy in the middle of the round. All things considered, it's a wonder Adamonis has earned more than $330,000 a year, which leaves him about $290,000 out of the 125th spot.

"I feel pretty good about where my game's at," he said. "I'm not that worried about it. I know if I play well enough, I'll eventually win tournaments and make a living playing this game."

Adamonis doesn't complain, quietly soldiering on. He insists on working until the end.

Just as his father did.

Craig Dolch is a freelance columnist for PGATOUR.COM. His views do not necessarily represent the views of the PGA TOUR.