MADISON, Miss. -- How did it come to this, two major champions competing in the Southern Farm Bureau Classic in late September, basically fighting and scratching for their professional lives?

The quick answer is there are no guarantees in pro golf. The majority of players on the all-exempt PGA TOUR, with the exception of recent tournament winners, are playing with one-year contracts. And they must perform at a certain level that year to play on the next.

The plain and simple truth is neither two-time U.S. Open champion Lee Janzen nor 1993 PGA champion Paul Azinger played well enough in 2005 to maintain their status in 2006. After protecting his status for 14 consecutive seasons Janzen, who won this country’s national championship in 1993 and 1998, finished 155th last year, 30 spots out of the exemption comfort zone that is the top 125. Azinger had an even tougher time, plummeting to a career-worst 187th.

So each man is at the point of no return. Each is using a one-time, one-year exemption afforded to those among the top 50 in career money on the PGA TOUR.

Now that’s pressure.

“You know the finality of it,’’ said Azinger, who plans to play in each of the last four full-field events as he chases the money. “But I’m almost 47. If I can’t keep my card I can accept it.’’

Paul Azinger needs a good finish to the season to retain his card. (Greenwood/WireImage)

There are two solutions: win a tournament soon or finish among the top 125 on the money ladder this season.

So here are Janzen (43rd in career money with $12,667,055) and Azinger (33rd with $14,073,985) headed into Sunday’s final round with their careers squarely on the line in the next month.

Azinger, 118th on the money list, will be attempting to protect his turf Sunday. The fact that he is playing on the weekend is an unexpected bonus after he opened with a five-over-par 77. He manned up in the second round, birdied three of his last four for a 4-under 68 and made the 36-hole cut on the number.

His number on Saturday -- 71-- wasn’t nearly as promising, but he did guarantee himself a paycheck with Friday’s finish. And every dollar counts when you’re a mere $73,133 removed from the dead man walking in 126th.

Janzen’s dilemma is more acute.

He is mired in 202nd place on the money list with $142,842, a financial area code -- or $425,955 -- behind Omar Uresti who is 125th. It happens when you’ve missed 15 cuts in 23 events and withdrawn from another tournament. It happens when your best finish is a tie for 26th at the Ford Championship at Doral. It happens when only eight of your 61 rounds coming into the Southern Farm have been in the 60s.

“It’s hard to build momentum when you’re missing so many cuts,’’ he said.

Janzen, however, has a golden opportunity to croon a redemption song Sunday. His sagging game has shown intelligent signs of life in mid-Mississippi. After opening with a 70 and improving with a 69, he bolted to solo second Saturday with a bogey-free 67. He’ll enter the final round two shots behind first-, second- and third-round leader D.J. Trahan, who stands at 12-under 204 after a third-round 71.

Strangely, Janzen claimed he hasn’t struck the ball any differently this week than he has in the past few events. There is a difference though.

“I’m chipping better, controlling my distance, managing my game well and making some putts,’’ he said.

That’s saying a mouthful considering Janzen committed to a complete make-over of his swing late last season and enlisted Orlando teaching professional Mike Bender to show him the way. He debated whether to rely on sponsor’s exemptions in 2006 or take the top 50. He opted for the later at the last minute.

“That takes some courage,’’ he said. “But my game was going down slowly until last season when it just fell off. I had to do it in order to compete.’’

There have been times when Janzen’s mind was tied in knots with way too many swing thoughts. He reached a point where he decided to slow down and work on one phase at a time until he got it right.

“I’m going step by step,’’ he said.

He can take a giant step Sunday. And when you’ve won eight times on the PGA TOUR like Janzen has, he knows he is capable as his confidence has built slowly but surely this week.

“What I do know is I have to worry about one shot at a time and not get caught up with the results,’’ he said. “As long as I execute it will be great.’’

Janzen paused.

“Confidence is your 15th club and it might be the best one in the bag,’’ he said. “Without it you have no chance, which is where I’ve been. I’d like to start a new chapter tomorrow.’’