This time around, Mayfair faces less headache at q-school

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Even at 44, Billy Mayfair isn't close to being the oldest player in the field this week at Orange County.

WINTER PARK, Fla. -- The first time Billy Mayfair went to q-school he was 22 years old, the reigning U.S. Amateur champ and the nation's top collegian.

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To say there were expectations on the Arizona State standout in 1988 would have been an understatement. But Mayfair delivered -- tying for 21st to earn his card -- and he hasn't looked back.

Until this year, that is. For the first time in 22 years, Mayfair once again finds himself at q-school which begins its grueling 108-hole run on Wednesday at Orange County National.

The veteran who has five PGA TOUR victories is 44 now, old enough to be the father of a handful of the players he'll be competing against this week.

"I do feel a little old," Mayfair said, smiling after he finished a session under bright sunny skies on the crowded practice green. "Maybe I can spur it on here and play good these next six days and see what happens."

Mayfair isn't the oldest player in the field. Guy Boros, 46, is six days older than Lee Janzen. Mayfair has earned more than $18 million, but Mayfair made the decision to enter q-school after finishing 142nd on the money list last year.

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Only the top 125 are fully exempt for 2011. Mayfair likely would get 15-18 starts playing out of the 126-150 eligibility category but if he is one of the lucky 25 who get their cards on Monday, he'd move up in the pecking order.

"I'm playing for seven or eight more starts," Mayfair said simply. And those extra tournaments might mean the difference in an extended holiday season or another trip to q-school.

Mayfair's decision to go back to the future was made easier because he knew he was exempt into the final stage of q-school this year. A year ago, when Mayfair finished 157th on the money list, he would have had to enter second stage with no guarantees of advancing to the finals.

In addition, by finishing in the 126-150 category in 2010, Mayfair knew he had a Nationwide Tour card for next season should he want it. And at the very least, he would get to play a limited schedule on the PGA TOUR.

"So I wanted to come here and play and maybe get some confidence and get ready for next year," Mayfair said.

A lot has changed since the Phoenix native first went to q-school. Back then, there was a cut after four rounds of q-school, and there were a total of 50 cards available. They could even ride carts.

More importantly, there was no Nationwide Tour. All 162 players competing in the finals this week at Orange County National have some job security because they will at least earn conditional status on the Nationwide Tour.

"But if you didn't get your TOUR card (in 1988) you didn't have anywhere else to play," Mayfair said. "You went to Asia. ... I think this atmosphere here is a little more relaxed than when I first went to q-school because guys know here that most of the guys here are going to have some type of status somewhere.

"A lot of these guys have played the mini-tours over the years and this is a big step for them. If they don't get through the top 25 at least they have the Nationwide Tour which is an outstanding proving ground."

Mayfair remembers being much more nervous in 1988 than he is this week. Most of the pressure he felt then -- and now -- was self-imposed. But there are other college hotshots at Orange County National this week to take the heat.

"Here maybe I'm a little bit more under the radar and people aren't noticing me," Mayfair said. "So maybe I can go out and take care of business again."

Mayfair's final of 26 events this year was two weeks ago at the Children's Miracle Network Classic. He missed the cut there and made the short drive from Orlando to Winter Park to check out Crooked Cat and Panther Lakes courses that play host to q-school. Both measure more than 7,300 yards with the Crooked Cat course topping out at 7,493.

"I prepared pretty hard for it," Mayfair said. "I'd like to see no rain come tomorrow. It's obviously a very long golf course. I wish it would stay warm and play a little bit faster but we've got to do what we've got to do.

"It's a long golf course. (There will be a) lot of 3-irons and 4-irons out there (for me) where some of these guys are probably hitting 6-irons in there. But it still comes down to if you putt well all week you've going to have a chance to make it."