Fall Series: The 10 players who must shine in final five events

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John Daly -- and many others -- are counting on the Fall Series to shore up their status for the 2011 season.

Sep. 29, 2010
By Ryan Smithson, PGATOUR.COM Site Producer

Think the Fall Series is a leisurely five-week stroll to end the season?

Here's a scary scenario for every player on the money list bubble as the Fall Series begins this week at the Viking Classic:

Last year, Jimmy Walker finished 125th on the money list. Robert Garrigus was 127th. (The man who finished 126th, Will MacKenzie, was already fully exempt for 2010).

Walker finished a mere $5,479 ahead of Garrigus for that final spot. Think about it. On TOUR, $5,479 is a missed putt. A failed up-and-down. A shot hit a fraction low on the clubface.

What did that extra $5,479 afford Walker? He was able to play in whatever full-field event he wanted. No q-school, no letters asking for sponsor exemptions. He was able to play in big-money events like THE PLAYERS Championship. Walker parlayed it into a fine season this year, with six top-25s and a locked up card for 2011.

Garrigus? He's only been able to get into 17 events, often at the last minute when someone withdraws. He nearly won the St. Jude Classic, but his spot is still not secure for 2011, so he's teeing it up this week. So are 131 other guys, many of whom need a big fall to avoid q-school.

Here are 10 players who need a big showing over the next five tournaments:

Fall Series: The 10 players who must shine

Rank	Player		Comment
		Dean WILSON	He's 118th on the money list and must have a couple of good weeks to get back the card he lost after 2009. His final-round 72 in the RBC Canadian Open -- where he led after 54 holes -- still has to hurt. A strong final few weeks will erase some of it.
		Briny BAIRD	At 117th on the money list, he must make some cuts this fall. Still one of the best iron players on TOUR, but his putter has failed him this year. Didn't build on career year of 2008, when he made 26 of 30 cuts. Still wears a straw hat 89 percent of the time.
		Rocco MEDIATE	At 188th on the money list, he has a long road ahead. Will probably get in 15-20 events next year no matter what, but at 47, wants the luxury of setting his own schedule. Has broken 70 in six of his last nine rounds, so his game is coming around.
		Jeev Milkha SINGH	At 167th on the money list, his first full year as a PGA TOUR member hasn't gone as planned. His Official World Golf Ranking has dropped from 50th to 152nd. Like his compatriot Arjun Atwal, he can win on any given week.
		Jonathan BYRD	Has seen his Official World Golf Ranking drop from 60th in 2007 to 184th. Curiously, has gone from being one of the TOUR's longest hitters to somewhere in the middle. Still a great iron player. At 130th, his card is on the line.
		Ryuji IMADA	He's been AWOL since tying for seventh at Bay Hill. His exemption for winning the AT&T Classic in 2008 expires at the end of this year. At 108th on the money list, his spot is close to secure, but he needs one final push.
		John DALY	With three probable starts this fall, might actually has a glimmer of hope to regain the PGA TOUR card he lost after the 2006 season. Has banked just $140,295 this year, but he's been making cuts. Has a rather surprising scoring average of 70.96.
		Troy MERRITT	The 2009 q-school medalist has fallen off the map since finishing solo third at the Zurich Classic in April. At 119th on the money list, he's staring at a return trip to q-school. Has a $90,000 lead over former Boise State teammate Graham DeLaet (129th).
		Webb SIMPSON	Hasn't built on his solid rookie year of 2009, when he made it to the third week of the Playoffs. Has driven the ball sideways all year (under 60 percent) but remains one of the best putters on TOUR. Sits 121st on the money list.
		George MCNEILL	At 138th, the all-time leader in Fall Series earnings ($2.1 million) will need another big push to make the top 125. He's missed his last five cuts, but he was struggling at the same time last year before scoring a pair of second-place finishes to close the season.