For Mayfair, just getting into the field was half the battle

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The wake-up call Monday morning was brutal. As in, 3 a.m. brutal, a time when many people in the fun-loving and free-wheeling Crescent City are just putting their heads on the pillow.

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Billy Mayfair had never been up so early. But he and his wife Tami had missed their flight from New Orleans to Charlotte on Sunday, and he needed to get to North Carolina in time to play in the qualifier for the final four spots in the Quail Hollow Championship.

The couple left Louisiana at 6 a.m. and -- counting the time change and layover in Atlanta -- got to Charlotte just before noon. Mayfair made his 12:45 tee time with about 30 minutes to spare, then went out and shot 65 to play his way into the tournament.

The five-time PGA TOUR champ didn't stop there, either. Mayfair made the most of the opportunity when he went out and fired a 68 in Thursday's first round that left him just three strokes off the lead.

"(I) felt real confident, so I just kind of let that momentum keep going," he said simply.

Thursday's performance should be another confidence-builder, too. Mayfair hit all but five fairways, 12 of 18 greens and used just 26 putts while making seven birdies and three bogeys.

"I drove the ball real well for a lot of fairways and made the putts I was supposed to make," Mayfair said. "And when I wasn't close to the hole, I two-putted, which you have to do out here."

The 43-year-old veteran went the distance on Sunday in soggy New Orleans just as he did on an airplane the following morning. Mayfair finished off a round of 68 and closed with a 73 that left him 4 under for the week and snapped a streak of two missed cuts.

The Monday qualifier was held at carolina Golf Club which, luckily for Mayfair, happened to be just four miles from the airport. There was some karma at the airport, too.

"Our bags were the first four bags off, so they took good care of me, absolutely," Mayfair said.

Mayfair said he didn't really cut things as close as it sounds, though. At the same time, he admitted that he would have liked a little more time to warm up.

All's well that ends well, though.

"I think I was still riding the high from the week," Mayfair said. "I played pretty well in New Orleans; I played good on the weekend. Monday qualifier, you just fire at the pins and try and make as many birdies as you can, and you don't worry about making bogeys."

Mayfair is in the position of having to play in Monday qualifiers and write for sponsor's exemptions because he ended the 2009 season ranked 157th on the money list. It was the worst finish of the former Arizona State standout's career which began in 1988.

So to say Mayfair is pleased to be playing at Quail Hollow would be something of an understatement.

"I was thrilled to death," Mayfair said. "To be honest, my wife Tami probably spurred me on more than anything. ... (She) caddied for me and we shot 5 under and got in, so I'm thrilled to be here."