Flesch hoping he still has a couple moves left in him

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Steve Flesch enters this week's McGladrey on the outside looking in at No. 126 on the money list.

One spot down, two weeks to go.

A week ago, it was one spot up.

Welcome to Steve Flesch's world, better known as the cut line for 2012 -- that fine line between all-exempt status and that past-champion 10-to-15-events-a-year world.

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To be honest, Flesch will be fine whichever way it goes. He plans to throw everything he's got into this week's McGladrey Classic and next week's Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Classic. He figures he needs to earn about $100,000 combined to make the top 125.

If he doesn't?

He's exempt into the final stage of q-school. And, yes, he's already sent in his entry fee.

"But I'd love to call them and ask for a refund,'' Flesch said.

That would mean much more than just extra money in the bank.

It's been that kind of year -- actually two -- for the low-key 44-year-old. Nothing great, everything pretty average or worse. In fact, he's surprised he's where he is on the money list, period.

"I honestly can't believe I'm close to keeping my card, as poorly as I've played,'' said the four-time winner. "Other than a couple of weeks, I've really played some average golf this year."

He's had just one top-10 this season -- a tied for third at the Reno-Tahoe Open -- and four top-25s. He's missed seven cuts, too. And while he's seen a little turnaround in the last two weeks, he's still just making cuts and not seeing the results he wants

By his own admission, golf has taken a back seat to, as he said, some changes in his personal life. He went through a divorce and just recently remarried -- on symmetrical 9/10/11. His new wife Dina is Skip Kendall's sister-in-law.

But it's been hard of late to leave his children -- 13-year-old Griffin and 9-year-old Lily for longer than a couple of weeks.

"It tugs at your heartstrings,'' Flesch said. "They know how long two or three weeks is.''

And even though they traveled some in the summer, Flesch admits the family and recent wedding took priority over his game.

"I honestly don't think I've put the time in,'' he said. "And when you don't practice enough, it shows in your game.

"The bottom line is I think I've got to get a lot more work in....I can't give up 40 yards out there and try to beat people with my wily veteran status.''

Yes, Flesch does. He pulls out the receding hairline jokes before you can. He loves that when he's off the course and not wearing his cap, most folks don't recognize him. And he even gets on himself for dipping his toe into broadcasting with a few stints on the Golf Channel, including Morning Drive, Grey Goose 19th Hole and some analysis at the 2008 Ryder Cup.

He also did a little Golf Channel segment -- In the Flesch -- where he made fun of himself. "I'm very self-deprecating,'' he said.

And pretty darn funny.

Flesch has won four events and more than $18 million on TOUR and still some folks only know him as one of the other lefthanders on TOUR. But when his game is on, he's a steady, solid, top-50 kind of guy.

He wonders if Griffin, who's gotten into golf lately, will do what Carter Toms has done for his father David -- give him a new focus. "He's kept my interest level up,'' Flesch said.

And given him some new material.

"He's probably got more friends on the TOUR than I do,'' Flesch chuckled. "He's got guys like Davis Love, Paul Goydos and Charles Howell on speed dial. I look up and he's texting Davis. Now how many 13-year-olds are texting the Ryder Cup captain?

"He's exposed to all the great players and great golf because he's out here. He knows more about what's going on in the golf world than I do.''

Griffin comes out for boys trips and Lily and Dina join them for the family thing. In fact, the whole gang will be at the CMN Classic in two weeks.

He met Dina 18 months ago in Phoenix and she's been the cheerleader ever since. "She's trying to keep me motivated," he said.

She had him on his toes last month at the wedding when they choreographed one of those full-of-every-move-in-the-book dances for the reception. Flesch even put on a black Afro wig for the Earth, Wind and Fire part of the dance (click here to see it on YouTube).

"It was fun to do,'' Flesch said. "But if golf doesn't work out, I'm certainly not going into dancing.''

When the subject first came up, Flesch was worried that he'd be trying ballroom moves like on Dancing With the Stars. Instead, he and Dina started scouring the Internet for wedding dance videos.

Their dance had 62 moves, took 10 hours of practice and had a cameo at the end by Kendall and his wife Tracy.

"I'm a guy with no rhythm,'' Flesch said. "And I'm an analytical guy. I'm just trying to remember all the steps and what part goes where. It's a lot of work for a broken-down golf pro."

A lot of fun, too. Now, if these last two tournaments could only be as enjoyable.

Two weeks ago, he opened with a 65 at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open and he closed with a 68. It was the 70-71 in the middle that cost him as he finished in a tie for 49th. Last week, he rallied to make the cut with a 69 but finished 65th.

If he doesn't make the top 125, he figures he'll have more time to spend with Griffin and Lily and work on his game. That wiley veteran/past champion status and some letter writing will help him get into about 15 events.

But if he does make the top 125, he laughed that he's good at riding the fence. He can make a good case for playing more and a good one for playing less and spending more time with the kids.

Like we said at the top, one spot away, two weeks ago.

All he has to do is pull off a couple of good moves. He did it on the dance floor so why not on the course?

Melanie Hauser is a columnist for PGATOUR.COM and can be reached at melaniehauser@gmail.com. Her views do not necessarily represent the views of the PGA TOUR. Follow her on Twitter @melaniehauser.