Power Rankings: Nationwide Tour Championship

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It all comes down to the final tournament of the year this week on the Nationwide Tour.

The top 60 on the money list make it to the Nationwide Tour Championship at Daniel Island in South Carolina and the goal is simple -- to make it inside the top 25 on the money list.

On Sunday, David Mathis rallied from three shots back to win the Winn-Dixie Jacksonville Open presented by Planters at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., to become the 24th different winner in 28 events on Tour this season. It was the final full-field event of the season and Mathis made it pay off rather nicely.

The win moved him from 35th to 12th on the money list, which assured the 36-year-old of securing his PGA TOUR card for next season.

"God has given me the chance to make a living out here," Mathis said afterward. "Some guys out here watch the money list like it is their daily bread. I'm thankful golf doesn't define me as a person. I like playing golf for a living, but it isn't who I am."

Those money-list watchers will be in full force this week at the Tour Championship. When the final putt drops on Sunday, only the top 25 on the money list will get their PGA TOUR cards for 2011.

For players outside of the top 25 heading into this week's tournament, there's still enough money up for grabs to make a leap up the list. Last year Matt Every started the week at No. 49 on the money list, but got hot and won to move inside the top 25 to earn his PGA TOUR card.

The final tournament of the season has a purse of $1,000,000, with $180,000 going to the winner.

Power Rankings: Nationwide Tour Championship at Daniel Island

Rank Player   Comment David MATHIS When you are hot, you are hot. Now that the pressure is off for Mathis to make it into the top 25, he can play freely with the knowledge he'll play on the PGA TOUR next season. Won JOON LEE Tied for second on Sunday and before that tied for fourth so he's getting closer and closer. Has posted a second-place finish on Tour each of the last three seasons. Sits at No. 33 on the money list so watch for him to make another move. Jamie LOVEMARK I'll stick with him again this week because he still is the leading money winner on Tour. Only finished in a tie for 59th on Sunday but has been consistent all season and wouldn't mind winning the money title. Jeff CURL Always take somebody from back in the pack in this tournament and Curl is playing very well right now. The former UNC Charlotte player tied for second on Sunday, and before that tied for 23rd and had two straight T5s. Not bad for a late-season run. Jason GORE The all-time winner in career wins on Tour with seven missed the cut at TPC Sawgrass but the week before won in Miami. At No. 41 on the money list and a win would put him inside the top 25 and back on the PGA TOUR in 2011.

John Dell has covered golf for the Winston-Salem Journal in North Carolina for the last 17 years. His views do not necessarily represent the views of the PGA TOUR.