On the Cut: Move for Top 30, Top 125, Top 150

With the final tournament of the PGA season starting tomorrow, there are actually three different “spots” that we should be grabbing our attention. Not one, but three.

This week at the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic, the one “spot” we will pay the most attention to is that of the top 125 on the PGA TOUR money list. For those that finish the season within the top 125 will gain full status as a PGA TOUR member for 2013. Here’s how that currently looks in going from 120 to 130 on the money list.

All of these players in the above table are entered. That will create even more buzz surrounding that #125. The guys either on the “plus” or “negative” side of that number will fluctuate every shot. As far as the range of money, it is $32,554 between Mayfair is Trahan.

Mayfair is the one with the biggest target on his back. (Debby Wong-US PRESSWIRE)

If you want to delve a little more one more spot down the money list, Gary Woodland, who sits at 131st, is less than $4,000 behind Trahan.

Same can work in the opposite direction, too. Between James Driscoll and Mayfair, the span is $67,377. Driscoll does have a little wiggle room, but making the cut must be his top priority.

Of course, any of these players can by-pass all of this by pulling off the simple task of winning.

The next “spot” is those that finish from 126th to 150th. Those that finish the season within this range will automatically qualify for the final round of Q-School and be given partial status on the PGA TOUR for 2013.

Here’s how that currently shakes out…

Only Yang is not at Disney. He’s over in Singapore.

The guy on the “bubble” here is Villegas. For Reifers, Durant and Killeen, a high finish is imperative as they are a bit farther back in the pack. DiMarco could easily pass Villegas.

(US PRESSWIRE)

The one player that has many scratching their heads is Cink. Wasn’t it a mere three years ago that Cink defeated Tom Watson in a playoff at The Open Championship? And at Turnberry, no less. If you look at Cink’s ranking since the week following that major victory, he has certainly suffered a free fall.

After capturing the Claret Jug, Cink cracked the top 10 and was ranked 9th in the OWGR. Prior to this week, Cink’s ranking is 277th and he is not even ranked among the top 100 US players.

Okay, he’s 101st.

Since the win at Turnberry, Cink has no wins in any official PGA event. Over the past two years, he has missed 15 cuts including 7 this year. A solid finish at Disney will go a long way.

The most intriguing is that of making the top 30. If you attain that level, you will be granted entrance into all 4 majors for 2013.

Only three players from this list are entered: Garrigus, Curtis and Blixt with only Blixt sitting outside the top 30. There is a bonus is that none of the players between Blixt and Curtis are entered, so his path to the top 30 is a tad easier. The issue? Blixt is over $200,000 behind Curtis, but that could also change depending on how Curtis plays. If Blixt finishes well and Curtis misses the cut, then he could realistically leap over Curtis to claim 30th.

A win guarantees a move up the list and that would be the second win in as many tournaments for Blixt.

With any of these players, making the cut will be goal #1. That means money and that could elevate your spot.

For this week, tracking the play on any website will postpone any drama. Golf Channel has the coverage for all four rounds. Here’s the schedule.

Thursday, 11/8: GC 10a – 4p ET
Friday, 11/9: GC 10a – 4p ET
Saturday, 11/10: GC 10a – 4p ET
Sunday, 11/11: GC 10a – 4p ET