Top 25 players to watch in 2012: No. 19 Tom Pernice Jr.

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Tom Pernice Jr. began the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Classic, the final event on the 2011 PGA TOUR schedule, No. 143 on the money list. He knew what he had to do -- and he did it.

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Pernice finished tied for third and vaulted to No. 121 on the Money List to gain exempt status.

"The ball doesn't know how old you are," said Pernice, 52. "I'm just trying to stay out here and compete. I just love the challenge. Certain courses out here I still enjoy playing."

Pernice wasn't even sure he would be in the field and have a chance to earn an exemption. He was the fifth alternate when the final week started.

"So it didn't look very promising," he said. "Fortunate that I was able to get in and I played well. It's great to have the chance and keep going."

With the performance at the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Classic, he has playing privileges on both tours in 2012 and can play to his heart's content. He finished No. 29 on the Champions Tour, with $611,724 in 16 events. He played 17 tournaments on the PGA TOUR, winning $694,981.

Pernice nearly became the second-oldest winner (behind Sam Snead) on the PGA TOUR before tying for second at the Viking Classic. Pernice would have become the first over-50 player to win on the PGA TOUR since 2007 when Fred Funk won the Mayakoba Golf Classic.

Pernice, who won his Champions Tour debut at the 2009 SAS Championship, had six top 10s last year, with a pair of T5s at the Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am and the Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach.

Category Average Rank on Champions Tour Scoring Average 69.90 12th Driving Distance 277.4 27th Driving Accuracy Pct. 68.41 58th Greens in Regulation 69.14 42nd Putting Average 1.748 19th All-Around Ranking 211 17th Money List $611,724 29th