By Helen Ross, PGATOUR.COM

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Rod Pampling took a somewhat circuitous route to the Wells Fargo Championship.

He tried to Monday qualify, losing out in a six-man playoff after shooting 65. So Pampling headed to Athens where he planned to play in the Stadion Classic on the Web.com Tour.

Around lunchtime Wednesday, though, Pampling found out he was the first alternate at Quail Hollow. So he hopped in his car and headed to Charlotte -- just in case -- and before he made it to the Queen City, the Aussie got the phone call that he was in.

Pampling, who was the 10th alternate on Monday morning, replaced Ben Crane who withdrew after playing six holes of the pro-am Wednesday afternoon. He's taking advantage of the opportunity, too -- shooting a 69 on Friday that moved him into the top 10 at 6 under for the tournament.

"It was interesting early on," Pampling said. "I didn't hit it great, but I made a lot of really good putts out there which kept the round going. As the day warmed up, I sort of got into the round and started making some birdies and getting up near the lead."

Pampling, who lost his card when he finished 127th on the money list, is playing in just his seventh PGA TOUR event of the season. He started the day with a 16-foot birdie putt on the par-5 10th but promptly gave that back on the next. He birdied two of the three remaining par 5s, though, and added a 19-foot birdie putt on No. 18 for his second straight round of 3 under.

Interestingly, Pampling had played 24 previous rounds at Quail Hollow and only broke 70 once -- a 66 in the final round in 2008 when he tied for eighth. This  week is his eighth Wells Fargo Championship but his first since 2010.

"It's certainly nice to be up in contention again," Pampling said.

By Brian Wacker, PGATOUR.COM

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- For all the back and forth, permutations, and scoreboard watching, only two players moved from outside the top 125 on the money list to inside it, and one of them was the winner of the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic.

Charlie Beljan, who entered the week 139th in money, locked up a PGA TOUR card for the next two years after his two-shot victory. Tim Herron’s journey to full status was a little more harrowing.

Herron, who came here 136th in money, was cruising along with five birdies through his first 14 holes Sunday. Then he double bogeyed the 17th hole after hitting his tee shot into the water and left his putt from just off the green a few inches short of the hole.

“I needed to suck it up and hit it down the left and try to hit a cut and I came over and hooked it in the water,” Herron said. “I thought if I got in at 12 under, I was in.”

But Herron finished at 11 under and thought he was out, kicking and walking on his bag in frustration. “Usually when I walk on something, it breaks,” he said.

Then he was informed he was safe.

“Billy Andrade told me, ‘Don't worry about it; you’re in; don't break any more stuff’,” Herron said. “But I didn't believe him.”

Herron finished 124th, about $13,000 ahead of Kevin Chappell.

Chappell, who tied for 34th, teetered back and forth most of the day before finishing just over $1,800 ahead of Jerry Kelly, who finished outside the top 125 for the first time in more than a decade.

Chappell, though, wasn't safe until Charlie Wi and Josh Teater each made par on the last hole. If either made bogey, Kelly would have moved up on the leaderboard and passed Chappell on the money list.

Kelly, meanwhile, can use a career money exemption.

Only two players fell out of the top 125. Rod Pampling and Billy Mayfair, who began the week 124th and 125th, respectively, both missed the cut and had to watch their fate from home.

By Brian Wacker, PGATOUR.COM Leaderboard | Projected Money List LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- One round down, three to go -- at least for those looking to land a spot in the all-important top 125 on the money list. As Jonas Blixt, who is already well inside that number, put it earlier this week, guys playing for a card is where all the stress lies because they’re playing for their jobs. Others, meanwhile, are eyeing the top 30 or top 70, which gets players into the Masters or invitational events. With that in mind, here’s a look at who moved up, and who fell down, in the opening round of the season-ending Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic. WHO’S UP>>> Camilo Villegas: He made the biggest jump of anyone on Thursday. Entering the week, Villegas was 150th on the money list and faced with the possibility of having to go to the second stage of q-school if he fell any further. He responded with a 7-under 65 to sit just one shot off the lead. As such, he’s now projected to climb more than 50 spots should he hold that position. Villegas has struggled since winning two years ago at The Honda Classic, falling outside the top 200 in the world. But he’s played much better of late with three straight finishes in the top 30. Villegas attributes the turnaround, in part, to a more positive outlook. “The biggest change is definitely mental and attitude,” Villegas said. Case in point: He three-putted his opening hole, No. 10 on the Palm Course, only to have nine one-putts the rest of the round. Started: 150th. Projected: 107th. Kevin Chappell: The Californian began the week inside the bubble, but just barely. A 67 gave him a little more cushion. It was also a good sign given his recent play. Chappell came here having missed three of his last four cuts. He also hadn’t broken 70 in any of his opening rounds during that stretch. Another good omen for Chappell: He tied for third here a year ago. If he does that again, his future status will be more thn secure. As for his round, he tallied a half-dozen birdies and just one bogey. He also took just 24 putts, which included 10 one-putts (though that number is a bit skewed since he hit just 10 greens in regulation).  Started: 123rd. Projected: 118th. Chez Reavie: If not for a playoff loss in Boston last year, Reavie wouldn’t even have to worry about his status for next year. As it is, he came to Disney on the outside looking in. A 68, however, puts him right on the bubble (replacing previous bubble boy Billy Mayfair). One big upside for Reavie: His 68 Thursday matched the low score on the much more difficult Magnolia Course here. That will put him in very good position going into the second round. Started: 132nd. Projected: 125th. Charlie Wi: He’s never won in 183 starts on TOUR. A victory this week, though, would have double meaning since it would move him inside the top 30 on the money list and get him into the Masters. This is the eighth first-round lead of Wi’s career and third this year -- he opened with a 61 at Pebble Beach’s Monterey Peninsula CC and a 66 at Bay Hill. Started: 45th. Projected: 29th. Charles Howell III: He began the week 73rd on the money list. He’s now projected to move up to 69th after one of just five 68s on the Magnolia Course. Howell had a pair of eagles in his round, on the par-5 fourth and par-5 10th. He also missed just three greens in regulation. Started: 73rd. Projected: 69th. WHO’S DOWN>>> Rod Pampling: The Aussie came into this week precariously perched just two spots inside the number. After a disappointing 70 on the Palm Course, which played nearly two strokes under par and two strokes easier than the Magnolia Course, Pampling is now projected to finish 126th. Pampling’s 31 putts certainly didn’t help. Neither did a bogey on his final hole of the day, the par-4 ninth. A year ago, Pampling shot 76-69 to miss the cut here. Started: 124th. Projected: 126th. Boo Weekley: The two-time TOUR winner came into the week flirting with the magic number. A 2-under 70 on the Magnolia dropped him one spot in the projections. He’s still safe for now, and he got the more difficult course out of the way on a breezy afternoon, but he’ll need to be careful. Weekley missed four of his last five cuts coming into this week. Started: 121st. Projected: 122nd. Jeff Maggert: The veteran crept closer to the bubble, dropping two places in the projected money following a 72 on the Palm Course. He still has another season before he’s eligible for the Champions Tour, so being fully exempt is important to Maggert. Started: 122nd. Projected: 124th. Billy Mayfair: A year ago, Mayfair entered this week on the wrong side of the number before tying for sixth to finish inside the top 125. Thursday, he shot a 72 on the Palm Course to fall off the bubble. Things started off well enough for Mayfair with three birdies through his first seven holes on the back nine. Then he double bogeyed the 18th and added three more bogeys on the front nine to close in 1 over.  Started: 125th. Projected: 127th. Gary Christian: The 41-year-old rookie said this week he’s just enjoying the ride. It could be a short one if he doesn’t move inside the top 125. He came to Disney two spots outside the number and fell one more after opening with a 71 on the Palm Course. Part of the problem: He had just three birdies on a course that played a couple of strokes under par. He didn’t give himself many opportunities, though, hitting just nine greens and still taking 28 putts. Started: 127th. Projected: 128th. NOTABLES Robert Karlsson: He came into the week 161st on the money list and is projected to drop a spot after opening with a 1-under 71 on the Magnolia Course, which has him in a tie for 48th. Justin Leonard: The 12-time winner entered 138th and fell a half-dozen spots following a 73 on the Magnolia Course. He does have a career money exemption for next season if needed, however. Stuart Appleby: A 74 on the Magnolia Couse has the Aussie projected to tumble four more spots to 166th. In three of his last four starts, Appleby has finished over par.

Rod Pampling is not particularly old; he’s 42. And he’s not American; he was born in Australia.

But thanks to his partnership with the Old American Golf Club -- the Tripp Davis/Justin Leonard design just north of Dallas – Pampling will have an unique look to his  bag.

Pampling, who lives in the Dallas area, will utilize the course and its practice facilities while at home, as well as display Old American’s logo on his bag during events, which he did for the first time at the U.S. Open two weeks ago.

“The conditioning and emphasis on shot-making at Old American are very similar to what we experience on TOUR,” said Pampling, who is in this week’s field at the AT&T National. “It’s the perfect place for me to work on my game while in the DFW area.”

Pampling has won twice on the PGA TOUR and several times internationally. He already has a top-10 and three top-25 finishes in 2012 and ranks 121st in FedExCup points going into Congressional.

“We’re honored to partner with a proven champion and great guy like Rod,” Old American general manager Mike McCabe said.

Pampling is one of several pros who’ve played Old American since its opening in 2010. Others include K.J. Choi, Y.E. Yang, John Senden, Steven Bowditch, Paul Stankowski and Nathan Green.

Old American was recently named No. 5 in Golfweek’s “State-by-State” rankings, making it the highest-rated course in the Metroplex. The USGA held U.S. Open qualifying at the course in May.

Waste Management's annual "Going for the Green" contest counts the cumulative total distance to the pin on the par-3 16th over all four days of the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Waste Management will donate $25,000 to 'Keep America Beautiful' in the name of the winner, Rod Pampling. Since its inception three years ago, this is the lowest total distance for a champion (average of 10 feet each round).

Before Jhonattan Vegas, William McGirt, Hunter Haas and anyone else inside the current top 10 took the course Thursday, the guys listed below were your leaders. The majority of the 10 listed below are fighting for spots inside the top 125 on the money list. Below are the players who posted scores of 65 or better in Round 1 that have afternoon tee times Friday. Track them all afternoon to see who can string together back-to-back good rounds at TPC Summerlin and regain their position near the top of the leaderboard.

Player Money rank Score Tee time Starting hole Shot Tracker Nathan Green 178th 7 under 3:17 p.m. ET No. 10 Click to follow Steve Flesch 122nd 6 under 2:39 p.m. ET No. 1 Click to follow Matt Jones 121st 6 under 2:49 p.m. ET No. 10 Click to follow Rod Pampling 119th 6 under 2:49 p.m. ET No. 1 Click to follow Harrison Frazar 64th 6 under 2:58 p.m. ET No. 10 Click to follow Nick Watney 3rd 6 under 2:58 p.m. ET No. 1 Click to follow Derek Lamely 194th 6 under 3:17 p.m. ET No. 10 Click to follow Vaughn Taylor 148th 6 under 3:17 p.m. ET No. 1 Click to follow Blake Adams 82nd 6 under 3:46 p.m. ET No. 10 Click to follow Garrett Willis 141st 6 under 3:46 p.m. ET No. 10 Click to follow

At first it looked like Steve Flesch would go low at TPC Summerlin. Then, if only for a brief couple holes, Billy Mayfair was on 59 watch. With much of the morning wave on its back nine now, the leaderboard is shaping up much like a 2010 Thursday leaderboard that featured five players tied for the 18-hole lead at 7 under and five others one shot off the pace. Currently, there are eight players -- Flesch, John Merrick, Matt Jones, Rod Pampling, Nick Watney, Robert Garrigus, Nathan Green and Paul Stankowski -- tied atop the leaderboard at 5 under with six checking in one shot off the pace at 4 under. Much can, and will, change between now and tonight’s conclusion of play but early indications are that tonight’s leaderboard may be just as packed, if not more crowded, than last year’s.

DUBLIN, Ohio -- There could be a change at the top of the FedExCup standings this week.

Bubba Watson came into the tournament ranked first by a mere 29 points over Luke Donald. Right now, though, the Englishman, who was tied for sixth through two rounds, is projected to over take the top spot in the standings.

Watson, who was tied for 49th through two rounds, needs a big weekend to hold onto the top spot. He likely needs to finish tied for 14th or better to stay No. 1.

Steve Stricker, who owns a three-stroke lead, entered the week ranked 34th in the FedExCup on the strength of three top-10s and seven top-25s in nine starts this year. A win on Sunday could move him as high as 11th in the standings.

Rod Pampling, who is currently tied for second, entered the week ranked 123rd in the standings. The Aussie has been playing well lately with top-10s in his last two starts on TOUR. Pampling could move as high as 31st should he go on to win this week.

Any player in the top 16 of the standings entering the week can potentially move to No. 1 based on his performance at the Memorial Tournament this week.

By Helen Ross, PGATOUR.COM

DUBLIN, Ohio -- It was a good news, bad news kind of round for Rory McIlroy on Friday at Muirfield Village.

The good news? He's still tied for the lead at the Memorial Tournament. And the bad? Well, he simply had too many miscues -- four bogeys and a double bogey to go along with his six birdies.

"I felt as if I played good enough to shoot something in the 60s but I just made too many mistakes out there," McIlroy said. "I made two bogeys on the front nine from the middle of the fairway with a 9-iron and a sand wedge in my hand. You just can't do that sort of stuff. And then 14 was playing tough today with that pin position, but to make double there was quite disappointing.

"But you know, I was happy with how I handled everything because I did make mistakes, but it seemed like every time I made a mistake I came back with a birdie or came back to just sort of rectify it. I feel like I'm playing okay, just need to limit the mistakes going into the weekend."

McIlroy had said on Thursday that he generally likes late-early tee times in the first two rounds. He simply wasn’t able to build on his success in the first round and found himself tied with Ricky Barnes, Rod Pampling and Jonathan Byrd when the morning wave ended.

"Some of the pin positions out there were very tricky," McIlroy said. "... If you miss these fairways, you don't really have a chance to get it close because the rough is so much thicker than it has been previous years.  You've got to hit it really well out here to give yourself opportunities.

"I still made six birdies out there today and shot even par. I feel like there's a lot of birdies out there, but it's tough to sort of keep it going the whole way around."

McIlroy, who tied for 10th in last year's Memorial, only hit eight fairways and 12 greens on Friday. Even so, he’s made 13 birdies in 36 holes so he needs to focus on the positives  as he stalks his  second title on the PGA TOUR.

"I've just got to accept whatever happens out on the golf course," McIlroy said. "Frustrated with some of the mistakes I made, but I'm happy enough. I'm thereabouts going into the weekend.

"There's still a lot of golf left to play. I know that and everyone else knows that. I just need to, as I said, just limit those mistakes. If I can keep the silly bogeys off the card, I think I'll be all right."

By Helen Ross, PGATOUR.COM

DUBLIN, Ohio – Rod Pampling needs to make the most of his opportunities this year.

The Aussie finished 151st on the PGA TOUR money list last year so he lost his card. He’s competing on past champion status and this week’s Memorial Tournament is just his eighth start.

Pampling has responded well to the pressure, though. He posted top-10s in his last two starts in his adopted home of Texas and is in position for another after two rounds at Muirfield Village.

Pampling, who is seeking to end a five-year victory drought, fired a bogey-free 66 on Friday to move to 6 under for the tournament. He’s tied for the lead with Ricky Barnes, Jonathan Byrd and Rory McIlroy.

“Obviously it's where you want to be is in contention, to have a chance,” Pampling said. “It was just a beautiful day out there. There was hardly any breeze, golf course is in fantastic condition, and you know, obviously things went our way.”

Pampling, who started on the back side, had matching nines of 33 as he shot in the 60s for the eighth time in 10 starts at Muirfield Village. Three of those came in 2007 when he tied for third.

“It's a good, classic golf course,” Pampling said. “I think it's in great shape. It's not just get up and smash it. You've got to shape it around and put it in positions.

“We've been here enough to know where the good positions are and where the bad ones are. We just keep away from the bad ones, should be all right.”