Finishing 21st on the Nationwide Tour money list in his first full season on tour wasn’t enough for this Long Beach, Calif., native. So he entered the finals of PGA TOUR Qualifying School, taking a calculated risk in order to improve his status in 2007. He was the first Nationwide Tour graduate to do so and the gamble paid off as Merrick tied for fourth in the 108-hole grind to jump past a number of players in the Priority Ranking. Highlight of 2006 season was his victory at the Peek ‘n Peak Classic, where he defeated Gavin Coles in a playoff. His only previous PGA TOUR start prior to his rookie season in ’07 came at the 2005 U.S. Open where he failed to make the 36-hole cut. Click here to learn more.

Returns to the PGA TOUR for the first time since 2002 after finishing 22nd on the Nationwide Tour money list and was the last player in last year’s graduating class. Got there because of a victory in the Miccosukee Championship, the last full-field event of the season. Was the 36- and 54-hole leader at the Utah EnergySolutions Championship but lost to Craig Kanada by a stroke after a final-round 75. Had a highly decorated collegiate career at Georgia Tech, where he was a four-time All-American, joining Phil Mickelson, David Duval and Gary Hallberg as the only four players to earn that distinction. Winner of the Fred Haskins Award and Dave Williams National Player of the Year following his senior season in 2000.Click here to learn more.

A one-year wonder on the 2006 Nationwide Tour, Putnam graduated to the PGA TOUR after his first full season as a professional. Finished 17th on the money list after racking up 10 top 25s, including a pair of seconds and two thirds. Turned pro after graduating from Pepperdine, where he is No. 1 on the school's all-time stroke average list with a 71.61 mark. Lost a playoff to Washington's James Lepp for the 2005 NCAA individual title, but won the Byron Nelson Award as the nation's top collegiate golfer. Made three of five cuts on the 2005 PGA TOUR, including a tie for fourth in the Buick Championship, his first event as a professional. Also played on the victorious 2005 U.S. Palmer and Walker Cup teams. Click here to learn more.

Former United States Amateur champion who finally played his way onto the PGA TOUR after five seasons on the Nationwide Tour. Finished sixth on the money list, amassing more than $300,000 despite not winning. Threatened to break through throughout the entire year with eight top 10s and 16 top 25s as he set a Nationwide Tour record for earnings without a victory. The Eugene, Ore., native won for the first time at the 2004 Oregon Classic, taking the title in front a host of family and friends. Holed a 30-foot birdie putt to defeat PGA TOUR player James Driscoll on the 39th hole in the 2000 U.S. Amateur. Rang up four consecutive top 10s in his first five starts on the PGA TOUR this season. Click here to learn more.

Became the second oldest rookie on the PGA TOUR this season after finishing 14th on the Nationwide Tour money list in 2006. Was 47 years, four months and six days old on graduation day. Allen Doyle was a month older when he earned PGA TOUR status through the Nationwide Tour in 1996. Scored his first Nationwide Tour victory at the ING New Zealand PGA Championship in improbable fashion, storming back from nine shots down to edge Jarrod Lyle and Brett Rumford by a stroke in his 92nd career start on Tour. Shot an eight-under-par 64 in the final round to claim the hardware. The victory was only Rutledge’s second career top 10. Click here to learn more.