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Power Rankings: 2014-15 full-membership players
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October 01, 2014
By Rob Bolton , PGATOUR.COM
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Adam Scott hasn't missed a cut since 2012 and is expected to have another strong season. (Darren Carroll/Getty Images)
I was probably the only person that didn't mind the four consecutive weeks of the FedExCup Playoffs. It granted me an extra week to work on this beast and get it to production.
The objective is to provide comprehensive comparisons and analysis based on long-term fantasy value for all golfers through category 31 (Non-exempt Medical Extensions) of the Priority Rankings. This caters to draft leagues, salary games and other full-season formats.
It's already worth reiterating that this is a ranking of value, not wholly a prediction of what will happen. Certain assumptions are made based on numerous factors, but as much as I could argue that a guy like Max Homa could have a better season than Rory Sabbatini, the mere fact that the established South African is fully exempt while Homa is in the bottom half of the reshuffle sways the smart investment to the veteran. (Keeper leagues are arguably the best spot for Homa, who could skyrocket for 2015-16.) On the flipside, some that are fully exempt via a victory have done little else to support higher value, and their grades reflect it.
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The offseason is not unlike its counterpart in any other sport in that everyone starts at zero, but cracking the top 125 in FedExCup points or earnings is harder than staying there. Yes, everyone still needs to execute to fulfill that truism, but not all PGA TOUR cards are alike. Those that are fully exempt are empowered by being able to set their schedules in advance. And within that subset is an offshoot of those with "carte blanche" status, as I've always referred to it. These are the guys already in the majors, PLAYERS and World Golf Championships. (The first edition of my complementary Qualifiers feature for 2014-15 will debut the week of the Frys.com Open.)
Web.com Tour grads not exempt from the reshuffle, Minor Medical Extensions, those with conditional status and Non-exempt Medicals pick up starts where they can. The higher one sits in the overall pecking order in this vicinity, the more starts he is expected to make. This dynamic directly influences fantasy value. I cite all of these statuses below for easy reference. If you're in a league that allows drop-adds, remember that golfers with conditional status are not obligated to compete on the PGA TOUR the same week as a Web.com Tour event. If a guy gets off to a slow start on the PGA TOUR, he'll be enticed to drop down and play full-time on the secondary circuit. This is the path that Fabian Gomez took to regain fully exempt status on the PGA TOUR for 2014-15.
Overall, there are 241 golfers ranked, including five non-members currently inside the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking. Three otherwise eligible are excluded -- Tom Watson (Life Member; 65 years of age), Scott Hoch (Major Medical; hasn't played the PGA TOUR since 2009) and Michael Block (PGA Professional National champion; gets six somewhat restricted exemptions). Meanwhile, after accepting membership in 2013-14, Darren Clarke has declined reupping. Since he doesn't fulfill other criteria for the feature, he is omitted.
With the renewal of every season, there are modified membership provisions and competition-related updates that demand your attention. These angles include:
• 47 tournaments on the schedule, up two from 2013-14.
• The conditional status category (No. 30) will reshuffle.
• Fields for the Frys.com Open and Shriners Hospitals for Children Open expand by 12. Both will now host 144 golfers.
• The Humana Challenge will accept top 10s from the Sony Open in Hawaii (or holdover top 10s from the OHL Classic at Mayakoba if they couldn't crack the field at the Sony). However, the Humana will not host an open qualifier, so it joins the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am as open events without OQs.
• Winners of the Arnold Palmer Invitational and Memorial Tournament will be fully exempt for three years (instead of the usual two). These winners will also be exempt into THE PLAYERS for the first three years after victory.One of the benefits of playing golf for a living is that a career can span decades, but gamers are predisposed to using short leashes. This is why I cite the age of all golfers. Career bell curves vary, but short-hitting guys hovering near or having already bypassed 40 are more likely to hurt you than help. Also, as a visual aid for salary gamers, golfers projected to exceed their 2013-14 total are noted with an asterisk (*) beside their earnings. Some are quite obvious, but not every league adjusts to a minimum value.
Thank you for reading and good luck this season!
NOTE: Age as of Oct. 9, 2014.
Earnings in dollars: M=million; K=thousand
Rank Golfer Age 2013-14 Earnings Comment 1 Rory McIlroy 25 8.280M The closest to the undisputed No. 1 across the board since Tiger Woods, you pick the year. 2 Matt Kuchar 36 4.695M Maintains a busy schedule, contends often and has missed only seven cuts in the last five seasons. Worth the investment in every format. 3 Adam Scott 34 4.098M Standard-issue season for him, which backs up the calm and confidence he exudes. Hasn't missed a cut since 2012. Top 10s in nearly half of his starts in the last two seasons. 4 Jordan Spieth 21 4.342M Didn't win, but eclipsed his 2013 earnings by nearly 12 percent, impressive given he'd had achieved so much in his rookie season. Played 27 times, too. No limit. 5 Justin Rose 34 3.926M Consistently strong. Logged 23 top 10s in the last three seasons. Reliability is your insurance. Five consecutive trips to the TOUR Championship. 6 Keegan Bradley 28 2.828M* The only gamers thrilled with his decision to withdraw during the BMW Championship play salary formats. He is a green-light special for 2014-15. 7 Rickie Fowler 25 4.806M Risen to where his harshest critics expect him to camp out in the majors. Wins will come. Another salary gain, albeit mild, is plausible. 8 Jason Day 26 3.789M* Plagued by injuries and illness, the Aussie somehow got to 15 starts and picked off six top 10s, including a win at the Match Play. You know the risk, but the rewards are even greater. 9 Tiger Woods 38 108K* Expected to return in December. Quoted as saying that he's expecting a "very full" schedule in 2015. Still young and strong enough not to bump into the second round even with the injury concerns. 10 Jim Furyk 44 5.987M Let casual fans bemoan his winless streak while you prosper. Showing zero letup and enjoying the game again. 11 Jimmy Walker 35 5.787M Gamers will accept a push and run, but his consistency is where his real value shines. Healthy and in the heart of his prime. Do not hesitate. 12 Sergio Garcia 34 4.939M Never plays or wins enough to rise into the top tier, but there's no denying the confidence factor that's run concurrent with his noticeably milder demeanor. 13 Bubba Watson 35 6.336M After filling the pockets of salary gamers as anticipated, it's now time to expected a regression. A non-factor in too many starts. 14 Brandt Snedeker 33 1.652M* Injuries finally caught up with him, but he found enough form in a long enough stretch to warrant an automatic buy in salary games. The rest of us will ease in, but we're poised to pounce. 15 Dustin Johnson 30 4.249M Was on pace to set new highs in several career totals before cutting his season short. Timetable for his return is TBD, so he'll be a nice scoop after the elite are off your board. 16 Bill Haas 32 2.841M* Went 27-for-28 and still misfired on my projection for a breakout season, but I have a tendency to be a year early for some reason, so I'm not wavering. Invest across the board. 17 Hunter Mahan 32 3.097M Despite overall success, he continues to deviate from short-term projections, so if you can stomach those bouts of mediocrity, he'll reward your patience. On this we can rely. 18 Zach Johnson 38 3.353M Comes off yet another big-boy season that included his 11th victory. No need to adjust your expectations for another year. 19 Chris Kirk 29 4.854M Part of the new breed poised to dominate. Missed only two cuts while totaling career bests in top 10s (five) and top 25s (12). Two wins are bonuses. 20 Webb Simpson 29 3.539M Figured it out despite too many off-weeks. All but erased concern that having a third child (born in May) would offset his impeccable balance. Plays too often to bypass. 21 Patrick Reed 24 4.026M Piled on early with two wins and recovered late, all while becoming a father for the first time. While polarizing in the mainstream, gamers love his fearlessness. 22 Hideki Matsuyama 22 2.837M He belongs. Played through injuries and advanced to East Lake in his first try. Equally as valuable is that he made 24 starts, and made only one in Japan in 2014. 23 Billy Horschel 27 4.814M The FedExCup champ proved again that his self-belief is unwavering. Back-to-back huge seasons are harbingers, but his value is greater in long-term formats. 24 Jason Dufner 37 1.651M* Talked of retiring in five years and ended the season with two bulging discs. Scheduled to return in October, but it's time to reset (read: temper) our expectations. 25 Gary Woodland 30 2.734M* Missed a career-low two cuts, but didn't explode. Improved his putting late in the season, so appreciate his rise of 60 spots in strokes gained after Doral rather than the finishing line where he placed 130th. 26 Ryan Moore 31 3.098M Picked up his third win and recorded career highs in top 25s (13) and earnings. Entering his 10th full season, so you have to play for the fade. Cannot hurt you, however. 27 Harris English 25 2.947M Disappointing fade during the Playoffs to 32nd in points, but the overall trajectory is superb. He's survived over three-quarters of his cuts made in three seasons on TOUR. 28 Brendon Todd 29 3.396M Lost his way once he started seeing new courses late in the season, but his breakout surprised no one. Can't expect him to hit 29 starts again now exempt from the reshuffle. 29 Graham DeLaet 32 2.616M Arguably the best talent with a PGA TOUR card and no titles, but he's entering just his fifth season. Dangerous when precision is at a premium. 30 Phil Mickelson 44 2.158M* One top 10 but nine other top 25s. First sign toward the downward side of the career bell curve. Of course, that means that he's on sale in salary games now. 31 Marc Leishman 30 2.558M* Career year sans a win, so his earnings feel low. Third year south of 25 starts, but less is more. Weekly gamers are advised to hop on his back for another start or two when he's on form. 32 Charl Schwartzel 30 1.997M* Only PGA TOUR win remains the 2011 Masters, but three-fourths of his last 32 starts went for top 25s. Obligations abroad year-round reduce his playing time in the U.S. 33 Scott Piercy 35 411K* Major Medical (torn muscle in the right arm) ... 14 starts to earn 200 FedExCup points or $300,710. Ignore those objectives as he returned strong in July and August. Automatic salary buy. 34 J.B. Holmes 32 2.365M Returned a changed man post-ankle injury. In his last two full seasons, he's missed only five cuts in each. Given his price tag, he's best suited for draft leagues only. 35 Kevin Na 31 3.153M First time north of $2.725 million despite no wins. Threw a couple of curveballs on tracks where he was a good fit, but he's really settled into a comfortable place post-back injury. 36 Charles Howell III 35 1.997M He's 319-for-419 with 71 top 10s in his career. Just two wins but 14 runner-up finishes. As steady as it gets, but particularly potent early in the season. 37 Graeme McDowell 35 2.077M* The timing of his daughter's birth threw a wrench into his scheduling at times, but he gave us what we expected over the long haul. Expect the same again. 38 Ryan Palmer 38 2.924M Kind of like the John Senden among the Americans. Goes quietly about his business, gets hot with his putter and rolls up the top 10s. Totaled a career-high eight in 2013-14. 39 Nick Watney 33 913K* Like Brandt Snedeker's season, Watney's was atypical, but it concluded with a series of strong results. Salary gamers should be salivating. 40 Brooks Koepka 24 1.043M* Exempt via top 125 with non-member FedExCup points. First American since Bud Cauley to forego qualifying process. Koepka's plan of attack worked in 2013-14, so his days as a sleeper are long gone. 41 Charley Hoffman 37 1.977M Missed just four cuts in each of the last two seasons. Five top 10s in both. Just good, old-fashioned value. 42 Henrik Stenson 38 1.894M After winning everything in 2013, a regression wasn't surprising, but the severity of it reminded us just how dominant he was. Capped at 15 starts for the fourth time in five seasons. 43 Russell Henley 25 2.590M Flashed a chip on his shoulder throughout the season, which was in stark contrast to how he smiled his way off the Web.com Tour in 2012. Buy. He's backing up the rhetoric with results. 44 Francesco Molinari 31 1.116M* Exempt via top 125 with non-member FedExCup points. First-time member, but doesn't qualify as a rookie. Love this commitment because he's so predictable. Just beware the limited schedule. 45 Matt Every 30 2.540M Broke through at Bay Hill but didn't parlay it into any consistency. Enters the new season much as he entered the last. Surround him with chalk. 46 John Senden 43 2.856M Latest evidence that you putt for dough. Stroked it arguably better than ever last season en route to a career year in what should be his twilight. 47 Martin Kaymer 29 4.532M Leaned on keeping the game simple when he won twice, but managed only one other top 10 in calendar-year 2014. Don't confuse him embracing balance with acquiescing to burnout. 48 Jason Kokrak 29 1.200M* Took three months off for a sports hernia and surgery, but walked off the season with a T16 at TPC Boston. On the cusp of something special. 49 Chris Stroud 32 1.826M* Despite a hiccup in 2008, he's entering his ninth consecutive season with fully exempt status. A nice talent that won't let you down and has the firepower to surprise. 50 Russell Knox 29 1.513M* Simply carried over his solid form from the 2013 season moonlighting on the Web.com Tour. Ended 2013-14 with a career-low 62 at Cherry Hills. Above average in multiple facets. 51 Brian Harman 27 2.414M Salary gamers saw it coming and pounced. Broke through at the John Deere and added five top 10s. Made 32 starts and 23 cuts. Built for so many fantasy formats. 52 Daniel Summerhays 30 1.509M* Superb complement to any roster. Might not be a world-beater, but he's much more than serviceable. Zero worries across the board. 53 Ryo Ishikawa 23 1.380M* Took care of business early to elevate back above the reshuffle. Hideki Matsuyama commanded more attention, so Ishikawa was able to just play. Still might need one more year to find consistency. He has time. 54 Victor Dubuisson 24 1.693M Exempt via top 125 with non-member FedExCup points. Huge payday at Match Play skews value. He's a phenomenon without fail (yet). Expect a schedule that barely climbs over the minimum (15 starts). 55 Martin Laird 31 583K* Probably didn't intend to fade, but he was right when 2014 would be all about the birth of his first child. Fully exempt for winning the 2013 Valero Texas Open, it's time to get back on board. 56 Freddie Jacobson 40 1.901M Failed to parlay a T2 at Sedgefield into a run in the Playoffs, but reached a career-high 27 starts. He'll drift into our crosshairs on certain tracks. 57 Cameron Tringale 27 2.169M Easy to overlook that he's already logged five seasons on the PGA TOUR, but that experience will yield a breakthrough victory at some point. With inflated salary value, limit to full-season formats. 58 Morgan Hoffmann 25 1.595M Has stumbled out of the gate, but warmed in the summer in his first two seasons. Already exempt into the first three majors and WGC-Cadillac Championship. Eyeing 20-25 starts now. 59 Ben Martin 27 1.482M After leading the 2013 Web.com Tour in the all-around, returned to the PGA TOUR and ranked 34th in the same. As consistent throughout his bag as any touring professional. 60 Carl Pettersson 37 1.348M* Predictably rebounded, but still has room to climb. Gets one more season with the anchored putting stroke if he wants it. Always a gem for Sedgefield. 61 Lee Westwood 41 1.223M* Time will tell if he's at the beginning of the next phase of his career, but he's earned our faith for another spin. Likely to fall in drafts, and then reward above that relative value. 62 Luke Donald 36 1.451M* Regressed since 2011 almost identically to how he rose into that career year. Accept and recalibrate your expectations. 63 Seung-yul Noh 23 2.115M Struggled after his breakthrough in New Orleans until making a bit of a run in the Playoffs. The inconsistency can shroud the fact that he was/is a phenom. 64 Kevin Stadler 34 2.300M Didn't make what would have been his first trip to East Lake despite the familiar confines of the BMW. Zero opening red numbers in his last 14 starts, but missed a career-low four cuts in 26 starts overall. 65 Brendan Steele 31 1.359M* Another fine season in the books with a career-best four top 10s. Above-average talent that stays busy always projects greater fantasy value. 66 Chesson Hadley 27 1.703M Only rookie to lift a trophy in 2013-14, but complemented it with six more top 15s. Successful frosh are always prone to a swoon, and we don't know what kind of schedule he'll carry. 67 Kevin Chappell 28 1.343M Posted career highs in top 25s (nine) and cuts made (22), but settled for a season-best T10 at Colonial. A poor man's Chris Kirk ... for now. 68 Ian Poulter 38 1.616M Coming off a rather typical season, but it didn't feel like it and he wasn't pleased at the end. 69 Matt Jones 34 1.928M Converted the shot of the year in winning in Houston, but floundered for the rest of the season, thus killing his prospective fantasy value. He's rebounded before, however. 70 Jamie Donaldson 38 1.329M Exempt via top 125 with non-member FedExCup points. First-time member, but doesn't qualify as a rookie. Needs another strong showing at the WGC-HSBC to establish a comfort zone for the remainder. 71 Ernie Els 44 1.799M Totaled a career-high 24 starts in 2013-14, but also a career-high six missed cuts. Enters the season as a mild bargain given the potential for an nth wind. 72 Erik Compton 34 1.796M Fulfilled his goal of being known as a golfer first with big weeks at Bay Hill and Pinehurst, especially. Misses too many cuts, but stash him in the back half of your roster and sleep well. 73 Tim Clark 38 2.066M Won in Canada, but remains best served as a horse for courses. 74 Jonas Blixt 30 1.342M* Bounces off his worst season thus far (of only three), but short games like his always produce time and again. 75 Paul Casey 37 877K* Selection du jour among salary gamers this season. Recently won in The Netherlands in what was his first start as a father. Downside is that he's never played more than 17 times in a single season. 76 Scott Brown 31 1.441M Registered four top fives and was still eliminated from the Playoffs after two rounds. Potent on short tracks where his accuracy can shine. 77 Robert Streb 27 1.300M It's rare when a young non-winner emerges with fully exempt status from the conditional status category. Top 25s in one-third of his starts. Scorer. 78 Scott Langley 25 1.151M Doubled his earnings despite only one top 10 to match his rookie total the previous season. Held one 18-hole lead and two leads at the midpoint. Slumps are short-lived. 79 Jhonattan Vegas 30 751K* After fulfilling his Major Medical with FedExCup points in the Quad Cities, he added a T8 at Sedgefield to wrap up his card. Healthy again and free from the medical, he's poised for a rebound. 80 Adam Hadwin 26 13K* Rookie. Led Web.com Tour in earnings, so he's exempt from the reshuffle. Eighth in all-around. Poised. As prepared for the big time as any rookie thanks to 5-for-5 stint (two top 10s) on 2011 PGA TOUR. 81 Shawn Stefani 32 1.369M You have to admire the patience he exhibited after terrible timing of a neck injury in 2013 to play his way out of a Minor Medical Extension in 2013-14. P2 at Congressional was a bonus. 82 William McGirt 35 1.275M Best season in all facets. It was also his first when he wasn't scrambling late to keep his card. Gamers always love late bloomers that play to their positives. 83 Jason Gore 40 273K* Top 25 in Web.com Tour earnings. Breezes back to the PGA TOUR full-time after knocking out seven top 10s in just 17 starts. Led the Web.com Tour in scoring. Most importantly, he's healthy. Go get him. 84 Justin Thomas 21 170K* Rookie. Top 25 in Web.com Tour earnings. No. 1 in the all-around and par breakers. Transitioned extremely well after successful career at Alabama. Probably on the pole to win 2014-15 Rookie of the Year. 85 Billy Hurley III 32 1.145M Horse for courses and comfortable in his own skin. We'll take it. 86 Stuart Appleby 43 1.477M After successfully retaining status after burning the second of two career earnings exemptions in 2013, he matched or set six-year highs in top 10s (three) and top 25s (seven). A push would be dandy. 87 Justin Hicks 39 1.544M I've been championing the late bloomer for two years now and he really delivered in 2013-14. Terrific DFS option during weeks when average putters can contend. 88 Jeff Overton 31 1.115M* Patch-quilted 24 starts amid a wrist injury that bothered him for several months. Can't rule out the impact of health or question his drive, but he's now winless is nine seasons. 89 Brendon de Jonge 34 1.171M Ranked 132nd in average earnings per start, worst among 96 members in seven figures. Splits in greens hit and putting regressed measurably. 90 Kevin Streelman 35 2.107M Travelers win was one of only two top 10s (T3, Kapalua). With victories in the last two season, find a place on your full-season roster and leave him alone. 91 K.J. Choi 44 1.677M Probably most ideal in DFS lineups because he minimizes the missed cuts. Excellent putters tend to linger longer on TOUR than their antitheses. 92 Luke Guthrie 24 840K* Solid not spectacular sophomore season. He's been able to ride early success in both years on TOUR, thus avoiding late pressure. You're investing in the consistency with a reasonable dose of potential. 93 Geoff Ogilvy 37 1.809M Third time he's started the Playoffs outside the top 30 and still advance to East Lake, but he was a non-factor exponentially more than he found success. 94 Sang-moon Bae 28 718K* Since his breakthrough at the 2013 HP Byron Nelson, he's 18-for-36 with no top 10s. However, he's averaged 25 starts in his three seasons, so he's worth a flier in salary games. 95 George McNeill 39 2.014M An emotional solo second at Greenbrier capped a terrific season for most intents and purposes. The renewal of another season can't hurt, but given the variables, he's a risk at his age. 96 Danny Lee 24 781K* Missed more cuts than he made -- 15 vs. 13 -- but he's now exempt from the reshuffle for the first time. Already a winner abroad, the former prodigy has salary gamers licking their chops. 97 Derek Fathauer 28 13K* Web.com Tour Finals earnings leader and exempt from reshuffle. Finished 201st in FedExCup points as a rookie in 2009, but he's a wiser player now. Spirited Finals warrants our faith and conviction. 98 Retief Goosen 45 826K* A shell of his former self, but shattered his career high in starts with 26. Survived 21 cuts, but finished outside the top 30 in 16. Closed the season with 14 consecutive cuts made. 99 Louis Oosthuizen 31 946K* Endured a lost season when it could have been a rebound. Injury-prone and doesn't play enough to earn the benefit of the doubt. However, he's perfect for risky salary gamers. 100 Andrew Svoboda 35 1.168M Didn't rest on a T2 in New Orleans. Expect a similar output again as he keeps his ball in play and understands the fortune of finding this level at his age. 101 John Huh 24 974K* Trends are unfavorable, but he hasn't been in jeopardy of losing status. The kind of value that you don't mind having, but don't want to stack. 102 Carlos Ortiz 23 12K* Rookie. Three-time winner on the Web.com Tour, so he's exempt from the reshuffle. Went 0-for-3 in the Finals with zero red numbers. Only cut made in last six starts was his third victory. 103 Pat Perez 38 1.315M Front-loaded in a big way in 2013-14, and then disappeared from May forward. Long-term is unchanged, however. 104 Robert Garrigus 36 1.095M Unlikely he takes what would be a third consecutive downturn, but he's past prime, too. Careful to stick with the reality over the potential. Previous firepower can deceive real-time thinking. 105 Stewart Cink 41 929K Rededicated and out from the umbrella of his five-year exemption for winning The Open Championship in 2009. Seven-year high of 25 starts bodes well for gamers. 106 Brian Stuard 31 1.852M Entering his fourth season with a card, but we're still trying to figure out who he is. That unknown taints his value. Has shown a trend to start hot, though. 107 Camilo Villegas 32 1.642M A win is always nice, but only four of his cuts made were top 25s. No more than five top 25s in any of his last four seasons, but grinds out paydays. 108 Michael Putnam 31 818K Automatic short-lister for DFS given his propensity to make cuts, but has only two top 10s in 92 career PGA TOUR starts. Perhaps having his brother, Andrew, on TOUR with him will light a fire. 109 Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño 33 926K Doubtful anyone expected 25 starts in his first full year on TOUR, but he emerged as a mild sleeper among the new internationals. Lost footing in the OWGR, however. 110 John Peterson 25 238K* Web.com Tour Finals grad. Acknowledged that he tinkered too much. Now recommitted with what led to his success in 2013 and armed with one year of experience, he's worth the plunge again. 111 Hudson Swafford 27 513K* Web.com Tour Finals grad. Certain talents like him belong on the PGA TOUR, so that he's survived his rookie season to return is valuable. Expect measurable progress. 112 Jerry Kelly 47 1.451M Exceeded his baseline value, but plan for the baseline again. After averaging nearly 30 starts in his first 17 seasons, he made 22 in 2013 and 23 in 2013-14. 113 David Hearn 35 1.138M He's landed between $1 million and $1.2 million in each of the last three years. Grinder that makes enough cuts thanks to a busy schedule. League titles needs guys like him in the trenches. 114 Bo Van Pelt 39 982K OK, so this is the new normal. It was a great run and we'll continue to spot-start him. 115 Rory Sabbatini 38 1.024M Stuck in neutral, but embrace the constant. 116 Max Homa 23 195K* Top 25 in Web.com Tour earnings. The 2013 NCAA individual champ forfeited rookie eligibility by making eight starts in 2013-14, beginning with a T9 at the Frys.com Open. A great draft-and-protect option. 117 Andrew Putnam 25 -- Rookie. Top 25 in Web.com Tour earnings. Joins big brother Michael in the big leagues. That relationship cannot hurt either. Andrew enjoyed a smoking first half before taking his foot off the gas a bit. 118 Richard Sterne 33 55K* Web.com Tour Finals grad. Quietly finished second in the third leg to earn his first card. Not a rookie, however. Let him come to you in drafts, but buy immediately in salary games. 119 Michael Thompson 29 932K* Not surprising that he turned in his worst season (of four) after his breakthrough victory. Visibility may increase if he's feeling the heat, but a fast start may cap him in the low 20s again. 120 Ben Crane 38 1.534M In any given week... Grinds through injuries and has no issues retaining status. 121 Ángel Cabrera 45 1.868M Inadvertently misdirected gamers early in 2014 with talk of shutting it down after the Masters with a shoulder injury. Then won Greenbrier, but it was his only top 10 of six top 25s. 122 Martin Flores 32 1.035M Flashes glimmers, but he's stuck in the middle of the pack where his value is serviceable only to full-season formats. 123 Jason Bohn 41 1.585M Three straight seasons with one runner-up finish, but he banked more than the aggregate of the previous two. Ideal late-round flier in deep leagues. 124 Brian Gay 42 605K Fully exempt for winning the 2013 Humana Challenge, but has just two top 25s in 48 starts since. Consider him on the wrong end of the career bell curve now. 125 Jarrod Lyle 33 -- Medical (reshuffle) ... 20 starts to earn $283,825. Easy to forget that he was playing well in 2012 before leaving to defeat leukemia a second time. It may take a little time, but he's worth a flier. 126 Chez Reavie 32 11K* Major Medical (surgery on left wrist) ... 24 starts to earn 420 FedExCup points or $700,578. Went 3-for-3 in Web.com Tour Finals. Poised for solid contributions in all formats. 127 Patrick Cantlay 22 76K* Rookie. Medical (reshuffle) ... 11 starts to earn 390 FedExCup points or $636,214. Five starts in 2014. Given limited opportunities, he's a risk, so monitor conditional status target (needs 275 FedExCup points). 128 Brice Garnett 31 617K* One of only two rookies to qualify for the Playoffs. Survived 20 cuts and stayed inside the bubble all season. Even though he had only two top 25s, gamers don't mind grinders. 129 J.J. Henry 39 554K Web.com Tour Finals grad. First time in his career without fully exempt status, which means that he's as safe a long-term investment in the reshuffle category that you're going to get. 130 Bud Cauley 24 647K Web.com Tour Finals grad. A untimely dislocated shoulder thwarted progress. Won the opener in the Finals to punch his return ticket. Then tore the labrum in his left shoulder and had surgery. Invest with caution. 131 Chad Campbell 40 470K Burning a career earnings exemption for sitting inside the top 50 (at 38th). Outside the top 100 in FedExCup points in each of the last three seasons. Led the TOUR in greens in regulation in 2013-14. 132 Blayne Barber 24 -- Rookie. Top 25 in Web.com Tour earnings. Probably best known for multiple DQs, but those were learning exercises. His game is strong on approach and on and around greens. Fourth in the all-around. 133 David Toms 47 801K Hit 20 starts for the first time in three seasons, but anything upon which he improves will be gravy. Still worth a look on short, tight tracks. 134 Bryce Molder 35 828K Silent all season despite consecutive top 10s in February. Best utilized as a short-track specialist in DFS. 135 Brian Davis 40 842K Went without a top 10 for the first time in his 10-year career, but wasn't in danger to lose status. Plays so often that your risk is minimal. 136 Aaron Baddeley 33 942K Still a terrific putter, but he's now three years removed from respectable tee-to-green splits. Missed more than half of his cuts over the last two seasons. 137 Sam Saunders 27 18K* Web.com Tour Finals grad. First-time PGA TOUR member, but doesn't qualify as a rookie. Gamers are already familiar with him, but he's not a strong ball-striker. Additional attention won't be a burden. 138 Andres Romero 33 782K Needed a career-high 26 starts to retain status and always figures out a way how to return. The epitome of "we know who he is." 139 Ken Duke 45 455K Suffered his second third-year fade (see 2007-2009), but remain fully exempt for winning the 2013 Travelers. A poor man's Jerry Kelly at this stage. 140 Sung Joon Park 28 -- Rookie. Web.com Tour Finals grad. Never played in a PGA TOUR event. Maximized starts in 2014. Intriguing talent from South Korea with success in Japan (one win and four seconds in 2013; fifth in earnings). 141 Jonathan Byrd 36 617K* Conditional status. First time south of fully exempt status, but should command bulk of sponsor exemptions. Projected for a rebound after limited play due to a medical extension. 142 John Merrick 32 516K* Made 20 cuts, but placed outside the top 130 in both FedExCup points and earnings. Fully exempt for winning the 2013 Northern Trust. Could sneak up on rookie gamers. 143 David Lingmerth 27 676K Web.com Tour Finals grad. Just missed fully exempt status via earnings. Traded a few more yards off the tee with significantly fewer fairways hit and got demoted. What you see is what you get. 144 Kevin Kisner 30 954K Late charge made the difference. Excellent putter that ranked well inside the top half in greens hit. More likely to pop in and out of our consciousness than remain there. 145 Ricky Barnes 33 706K Capitalized on the opposite events where he posted his only two top 10s. Survived 19 cuts. Doesn't excel in any one area and annually among the worst in putting inside five feet. 146 Scott Pinckney 25 -- Rookie. Web.com Tour Finals grad. Inside the top-75 bubble all season, but peaked in the last several weeks. Given the timing, he's worth an early look. Decent size (6'0") and pop off the tee (297.1 yards). 147 Tim Wilkinson 36 824K Thanks to a second-half surge, the lefty is back above the reshuffle for the first time since 2009. Remains suitable as a late-round complement in deeper leagues. 148 Steven Bowditch 31 1.734M The breakthrough in San Antonio accounts for over 34 percent of his career earnings and it's one of only three top 10s in 127 starts. Flier value in full-season formats. 149 Steve Stricker 47 1.154M Finally fading from view, not that veteran gamers don't vividly recall his renaissance less than 10 years ago. Now a hired gun for weekly leaguers. Bit by several injury bugs this year, too. 150 Alex Cejka 43 57K* Top 25 in Web.com Tour earnings. Parlayed win-solo second opening into full-time return to the PGA TOUR, but hasn't finished better than 95th in earnings since 2004. An automatic salary play at that price tag. 151 Eric Axley 40 180K* Web.com Tour Finals grad. Sniped the final card by $31.66. Despite opening position at the bottom of the reshuffle, the lefty sets up as a smart investment for full-season formats after a quietly sound 2013-14. 152 Nick Taylor 26 -- Rookie. Web.com Tour Finals grad. Remember this guy? The former top-ranked amateur in the world scuffled until getting it in gear late. Won't slide by veteran gamers, but will need to putt better (T122 in 2014). 153 Jonathan Randolph 26 -- Rookie. Top 25 in Web.com Tour earnings. Automatic pick for the Sanderson Farms where he's posted top 25s in the last two editions, but imprecision tee to green will put pressure on his terrific putting. 154 Tyrone Van Aswegen 32 454K Web.com Tour Finals grad. Couldn't complain too much about his rookie season on the PGA TOUR (144th in FedExCup points), but didn't really impress, either. Think of his return as running in place. 155 Jon Curran 27 37K* Rookie. Top 25 in Web.com Tour earnings. Keegan Bradley is a pal. Bradley's aunt, Pat, is a Hall of Famer. Perhaps there's some trickle-down success for Curran. However, his stats are unimpressive and he missed 15 cuts. 156 Bill Lunde 38 -- Top 25 in Web.com Tour earnings. The PGA TOUR winner will benefit from knowing many of the courses, but he's buried in the opening reshuffle after a disappointing Finals. 157 Joost Luiten 28 162K* Non-member inside the top 50 in the OWGR. Level-headed Dutchman on the rise. No top 10s in 15 career starts on the PGA TOUR, but will serve as a cheap resource for DFSers in WGCs. 158 Mark Hubbard 25 10K* Rookie. Top 25 in Web.com Tour earnings. A deep sleeper given that he's largely unknown coming off only one year on the Web.com Tour. All-around skill set that yielded a circuit-high 85 rounds played. 159 Heath Slocum 40 566K Web.com Tour Finals grad for the second straight year. Horse for courses. Just one top 10 in his last 91 PGA TOUR starts. 160 Charlie Wi 42 384K Minor Medical (torn ligament in a thumb) ... Needs 109 FedExCup points or $327,549 for a promotion. Has already secured conditional status. Horse for courses (i.e. DFS only). 161 Thomas Björn 43 314K Non-member inside the top 50 in the OWGR. Enjoying an extended second wind and doesn't want to slow down. Good value in the biggest events. 162 Will MacKenzie 40 1.853M Haven't witnesses a tale of two seasons quite like his. Borderline undraftable, but the kicker is that he's fully exempt again. 163 Scott Stallings 29 1.385M He's a winner -- three times in four seasons -- but his Farmers title was his only top-30 finish of the season. The kind of stock for which you don't mind if your opponent is on the hook. 164 Tom Gillis 46 -- Web.com Tour Finals grad. Horse for courses, but led PGA TOUR in par breakers in 2010, a skill set that plays well on the developmental circuit where he enjoyed a consistent return in 2014 and ranked third in the stat. 165 Greg Owen 42 95K* Web.com Tour Finals grad. Split times on both tours and won on the Web.com in late June. Just 10 top 10s in 201 career starts in the big leagues, and none in his last 33. 166 D.A. Points 37 364K* Endured his worst season since breaking on in 2005 and returning for good in 2009, but he's fully exempt as the 2013 Shell Houston Open champion. Way worth the risk in salary games. 167 James Hahn 32 735K Scraped out his third consecutive TOUR card with two top 15s within four weeks. A great story but earns any tiebreaker only because he can set his schedule. 168 Justin Leonard 42 807K Zero top 25s among 11 cuts made in his last 17 starts. Four consecutive seasons south of seven figures. 169 Boo Weekley 41 832K His second wind of 2013 is shaping up as an anomaly. A banged-up body hasn't helped. 170 Troy Merritt 28 882K Quietly returned to the PGA TOUR and retained status thanks to a solo second in Memphis. His 0-for-6 start limited his schedule to 20 events. Expect that to rise. 171 Stephen Gallacher 39 165K Non-member inside the top 50 in the OWGR. Can't rule out a fade after reaching the Ryder Cup in his homeland. Also finished outside top 30 in 10 of 12 PGA TOUR starts in 2013-14. 172 Sean O'Hair 32 408K Web.com Tour Finals grad again this year after connecting two seasons well outside the top 150 in FedExCup points. With as many kids as he has wins (four), his time is stretched thin. 173 Colt Knost 29 -- Web.com Tour Finals grad. Enters his fifth season with a PGA TOUR card, but has finished inside the top 155 in FedExCup points just once. Love his tenacity, but the results just aren't there. 174 Mark Wilson 39 155K Last season of a multiple-win exemption. Finally fell off the cliff in 2013-14 with only one top 40 in 25 starts. It was his third consecutive regression and easily the worst season of his career. 175 Cameron Percy 40 -- Top 25 in Web.com Tour earnings. One of the forgotten victims to Jonathan Byrd's walk-off ace at 2010 Shriners. Outside top 155 in FedExCup points in all three previous tries. Age is not on his side. 176 Tony Finau 25 -- Top 25 in Web.com Tour earnings. Gamers have reason to worry that he's the next Jamie Lovemark or Luke List -- guys whose talent and reputation as a bomber precede them, but haven't been able stay on TOUR. 177 Johnson Wagner 34 393K Conditional status. Seems to thrive on pressure. Closed 5-for-5 to finish 150th in FedExCup points. Last time with this status, he won early in the 2011 season. 178 Trevor Immelman 34 447K Conditional status. Shouldn't have a problem getting sponsor exemptions, so he's a worthy flier in deep formats. Still hasn't elevated his game since surgery on his left wrist in October of 2009. 179 Davis Love III 50 284K Life member. Went 15-for-22 in 2013-14, but failed to record a top 25. Just starting to dip his toe into the Champions Tour where he figures to thrive. 180 Jim Herman 36 187K Web.com Tour Finals grad for the second consecutive year. Fourth time he's had a PGA TOUR card, but hasn't cracked the top 135 in FedExCup points. Over par in eight of nine final rounds in 2013-14. 181 Ben Curtis 37 625K Conditional status. The last time he played out of this category was in 2012. He planned on splitting time on European Tour, but won in fourth PGA TOUR start that season. Always a threat, but too often quiet. 182 Kyle Reifers 30 12K* Top 25 in Web.com Tour earnings. Third trip to the TOUR. Only top 10 occurred as a non-member in 2013. A trio of T3s helped punch this ticket. We know who he is. 183 Daniels Berger 21 59K* Rookie. Top 25 in Web.com Tour earnings. Left Florida State after two years, and he's fresh off five top 10s and another five top 25s, but gamers need to see him at the highest level first. We can wait. 184 Josh Teater 35 366K Conditional status. Makes a lot of cuts, but failed to pick off a top 20 in 2013-14. Useful only in DFS. 185 Zack Sucher 28 -- Top 25 in Web.com Tour earnings. Never played in a PGA TOUR event. Scored 19-under in each start of a T4-win-T2 spurt at the end of July and early August. Gamers prefer success on harder tracks. 186 Chad Collins 36 408K Web.com Tour Finals grad. Finished inside the top 155 in FedExCup points just once (2010) in four tries. His stats in 2013-14 were uninspiring. 187 Alex Prugh 30 90K* Web.com Tour Finals grad. Was a PGA TOUR member in 2013-14, but qualified for the Finals via Web.com play. Needed to accept the demotion after an 0-for-6 start on the PGA TOUR. His 2010 season is ages ago. 188 Roberto Castro 29 615K Conditional status. Fell short at the Web.com Tour Finals by $31.66. It was a severe slide after reaching the TOUR Championship in 2013. Fantasy value will hinge upon how he starts 2015 Web.com Tour. 189 Charlie Beljan 29 712K Already exhausted his exemption for winning at Disney two years ago, but snuck in at 124th on the money list. Way too inconsistent to deserve a look in any short-term format. 190 Robert Allenby 43 514K Last man in the Playoffs finished 145th in earnings. Burned his first career earnings exemption, finished no better than T16 at El Camaleón and missed 17 cuts. Missed 50 of 80 since 2012. 191 Vijay Singh 51 989K As a Life Member, his scheduling is up to him, but he's made only three starts on the Champions Tour. Hitting seven figures on the PGA TOUR would be a coup. 192 Mike Weir 44 854K Didn't qualify for the Playoffs for the fifth consecutive year, but finished inside the top 125 in earnings with one top 40 (solo second; HP Byron Nelson). Has burned both career earnings exemptions. 193 Lucas Glover 34 210K Entering final year of his multiple-win exemption that began with his 2009 U.S. Open title. Finished a respective 219th, 114th and 185th in FedExCup points the last three years. Grossly needs to improve putting. 194 Steven Alker 43 -- Top 25 in Web.com Tour earnings. After falling just $1,227 short in 2013, the Kiwi is back 12 years after his only previous season on the PGA TOUR, but he'll serve a horse for courses in DFS only. 195 Greg Chalmers 40 578K Conditional status. Short-hitting great putters tend to slow down at his age. Could serve as an inexpensive pickup in salary games when fields expand in the spring. 196 Nicholas Thompson 31 713K He's been around for so long that it's hard to believe his age. More veteran than journeyman, but rarely in contention. Not suited for any format. 197 Will Wilcox 28 586K Conditional status. Did well to secure it after waiting until January to begin his rookie season. Remember him for DFS when he gets his spot starts. 198 Andrew Loupe 25 563K Conditional status. Comes off a fair rookie season that featured a hot March, but will now battle for playing time. Keep an eye on him for 2015-16. 199 Fabian Gomez 35 27K* Top 25 in Web.com Tour earnings. Had conditional status on PGA TOUR in 2013-14, but eschewed it after four starts. Bothered by sore wrist during the Finals (0-for-2). Two top 10s on TOUR in 53 starts. 200 Ryan Armour 38 -- Top 25 in Web.com Tour earnings. No stranger to the PGA TOUR, but failed to back up a decent rookie year in 2007. Consider as the last man in DFS on short tracks where precision matters. 201 Andres Gonzales 31 75K Top 25 in Web.com Tour earnings. Half man, half amazing has traded time on both tours for four years. If the third time is the charm, there isn't any evidence to support it. He may simply be a tweener. 202 Roger Sloan 27 -- Rookie. Top 25 in Web.com Tour earnings. The Calgary native won the inaugural Nova Scotia Open in early July for nearly three-quarters of his earnings. It was his only top 10; zero top 25s thereafter. 203 Steve Wheatcroft 36 -- Top 25 in Web.com Tour earnings. Back on TOUR for the fourth time but has yet to crack the top 165 in FedExCup points. After winning in Boise in July, admitted he had "lost all belief" earlier in the year. 204 Oscar Fraustro 32 14K* Rookie. Web.com Tour Finals grad. After going just 8-for-21 during the regular season, picked off a T4 (second leg) for his only cut made of the series. Could be in for a bumpy ride on the PGA TOUR. 205 Tom Hoge 25 -- Rookie. Web.com Tour Finals grad. Snuck inside top-75 bubble on Web.com Tour in late July and survived his last eight cuts. The TCU product ranked outside the top 105 in both fairways and greens hit. 206 Zac Blair 24 37K* Rookie. Web.com Tour Finals grad. Extremely unproven, but fearless. Didn't make his Web.com Tour debut until July. Opened the Finals 0-for-3 before a solo second in the finale. 207 Whee Kim 22 -- Rookie. Web.com Tour Finals grad. Never played in a PGA TOUR event. Barely qualified for the Finals. Let him experience the PGA TOUR alone. 208 Byron Smith 33 -- Rookie. Top 25 in Web.com Tour earnings. Never played in a PGA TOUR event. Finally made it after turning pro in 2003, but beware. Failed to find a top 20 in his last 13 starts. Battled a back injury late. 209 Blake Adams 39 98K* Major Medical (left hip) ... 16 starts to earn 278 FedExCup points or $497,044. Underwent hip replacement surgery in late July. Won't return until January at the earliest. Not worth the risk. 210 Miguel Angel Jiménez 50 432K Non-member inside the top 50 in the OWGR. Anything he provides is a bonus, but his usage will come far and few between, if at all. 211 Spencer Levin 30 277K Eight starts to earn 123 FedExCup points or $317,703. Faded terribly beginning in late January, but worth a late-round shout in drop-add leagues that can ride out his medical. 212 Richard H. Lee 27 618K Conditional status. Still grinding through the learning curve after failing to find a groove last season. Hasn't played Web.com Tour regularly since 2011. 213 Kris Blanks 41 17K* Medical (reshuffle) ... Nine starts to earn 350 FedExCup points or $578,156. Won on Web.com Tour, but went 1-for-8 on the PGA TOUR. Expect him to bounce between circuits again. 214 Briny Baird 42 616K Major Medical (back) ... Nine starts to earn 72 FedExCup points or $96,029. Already eligible for conditional status. Since T2 at McGladrey: 5-for-14 with no top 45s, but hasn't played since Colonial in late May. 215 Ted Potter, Jr. 30 386K Major Medical (right ankle) ... Two starts to earn 127 FedExCup points or $326,004. Had surgery and doesn't anticipate returning until early in 2015. Needs only 12 FedExCup points for conditional status. 216 Jim Renner 30 763K Exempt from the reshuffle (via earnings) for the first time but survived only six cuts. Ranked last in bogey avoidance and his career cuts-made clip is just over 35 percent. 217 Thongchai Jaidee 44 76K Non-member inside the top 50 in the OWGR. Always lingering, but his value remains on the European Tour and elsewhere. 218 Carlos Sainz Jr. 28 -- Rookie. Web.com Tour Finals grad. Never played in a PGA TOUR event. Entered Finals ranked 74th in Web.com Tour earnings and grabbed the second-to-last card available. Longest of long shots. 219 Brandt Jobe 49 -- Non-exempt Medical (surgery on left shoulder). 10 starts to earn 438 FedExCup points or $712,345. Hasn't played PGA TOUR since 2013 season. Turns 50 on Aug. 1, 2015. 220 Troy Kelly 36 -- Major Medical ... 12 starts to earn 354 FedExCup points or $563,133. Returned from an 11-month absence due to surgery on his right knee and went a combined 2-for-11 on both tours. Salary flier at best. 221 Derek Ernst 24 305K His only top 25 in 50 starts is a win at Quail Hollow in 2013. That's why he's fully exempt this season. Made 28 starts in 2013-14 and concluded with five consecutive cuts made, but still raw. 222 Woody Austin 50 292K Went 10-for-22 with one top 25 (at the 30-man Hyundai TOC). Cleared $521K in four starts on the Champions Tour. Fully exempt on the PGA TOUR through 2014-15 for winning 2013 Sanderson Farms. 223 Mark Anderson 28 122K Medical (reshuffle) ... Seven starts to earn 383 FedExCup points or $589,747. Fell off a ladder and injured his leg in May. Plans on returning in October. Terms of medical present severe upward climb. 224 Bob Estes 48 156K Major Medical (impingement in left shoulder) ... 24 starts to earn 365 FedExCup points or $556,345. Hasn't played since November of 2013 and doesn't expect to return until 2015 at the earliest. 225 Lee Williams 32 66K Medical (reshuffle) ... Needs 364 FedExCup points or $646,270 for the promotion. Explanation for the medical is unknown, but he hopes to return by February. 226 Kenny Perry 54 130K Burning a career earnings exemption for sitting inside the top 25 (at 15th). Competed on the PGA TOUR a combined 13 times in the last three seasons. Hasn't posted a top 25 since the 2010 WGC-Bridgestone. 227 Harrison Frazar 43 47K Major Medical ... 10 starts to earn 332 FedExCup points or $548,236. Went 4-for-15 in 2013-14 and has finished outside the top 45 in his last 37 starts, including the recent Web.com Tour Finals. 228 Dudley Hart 46 40K Major Medical ... Eight starts to earn $464,067. After sitting out 2013, went 2-for-4 in 2013-14 and 0-for-3 (with a withdrawal) during the Web.com Tour Finals. Last top 25 was at 2008 TOUR Championship. 229 Will Claxton 33 56K Medical (reshuffle) ... 12 starts to earn 386 FedExCup points or $655,458. No explanation for why he's been out since Pebble Beach. Went 4-for-8 with no better than a T40 in 2013-14. 230 Scott Verplank 50 10K Exhausting the second of his career earnings exemptions for ranking 26th all-time. It's likely going to be his swan song on TOUR. Went 1-for-12 with a T72/MDF (Sony Open) in 2013-14. 231 Scott Gardiner 38 209K Minor Medical (low thyroid reading) ... Three starts to earn 313 FedExCup points or $503,075. Two consecutive seasons on the PGA TOUR have failed to yield a top 10. 232 D.H. Lee 27 138K Minor Medical (neck) ... Three starts to earn 344 FedExCup points or $573,703. One top 50 anywhere in his last 24 starts. 233 Joe Affrunti 33 -- Rookie. Medical (reshuffle) ... Eight starts to earn $599,714. Out since late August of 2013 after suffering a setback following surgery on his left shoulder. Remains in a holding pattern indefinitely. 234 Bobby Gates 28 10K Medical (reshuffle) ... Five starts to earn 437 FedExCup points or $701,425. Underwent hip surgery on July 16. Even if he was ready to go right out of the gate, those terms are extremely challenging. 235 Benjamin Alvarado 29 13K Rookie. Medical (reshuffle) ... Four starts to earn 423 FedExCup points or $699,104. Unrealistic terms for an unproven talent. Went a combined 1-for-9 on both tours after returning from a knee injury. 236 Neal Lancaster 52 -- Medical (reshuffle) ... Seven starts to earn $727,814. Last top 50 on the PGA TOUR came in August of 2009. Not worth the plunge in formats the Champions Tour, either. 237 Anthony Kim 29 -- Major Medical (Achilles tendon surgery) ... 16 starts to earn $613,550. Hasn't competed since May of 2012. No timetable for a return. 238 Tag Ridings 40 53K Non-exempt Medical (back). One start to earn 396 FedExCup points or $658,698. 239 Arron Oberholser 39 -- Major Medical (left hand and wrist) ... 10 starts to earn $349,854. In November of 2013, said that he doesn't playing on using the starts, but he's not retired. He's been busy with media work, too. 240 Chris Couch 41 -- Major Medical (back) ... Four starts to earn $311,662. Hasn't played since 2012. 241 David Berganio Jr. 45 -- Medical (reshuffle) ... Seven starts to earn $547,166. Hasn't competed since 2009. Hasn't cracked a top 30 since 2003. -
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