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Greetings ...

UPDATE: 9:20 PM EDT, 9-19-05 -- Things have changed since this was first posted. See my follow-ups below

Were any of you looking for Jason Gore on the PGA Tour's Official Money List after his 84 Lumber Classic victory but could not find him? Not to worry - he's actually on the Non-Members Money List, and there's a reason for it.

It seems that Jason's being on the non-member list rather than the regular Official Money List is most likely due to a new (albeit unknown til now) PGA Tour policy that was surely put into effect after the end of the 2004 Tour season.

Now if you recall the events of late last season, Padraig Harrington had qualified for the 2004 Tour Championship with Special Temporary Member earnings (which includes World Golf Championship money) that were well in excess of the 30th player on the Oct 31st, 2004 money list.

Harrington turned out not to a factor at the 04 Tour Championship. However, if he had won the event, then-existing rules would have elevated him to the regular members' money list. That would have resulted in the dislodging of several players out of key positions on the final money list of the 2004 season.

It looks like the PGA Tour Policy Board has addressed this matter for 2005 and beyond.

Even though Jason Gore remains on the non-members' list, he still gets official victory exempt status just like any other PGA Tour winner. And he'll still qualify for the Tour Championship if he earns at least as much money as the the 30th player on the Regular Members' Money List as of October 31st 2005.

Thanx-A-Lot, Frank-0-Sport

Thanks frank-o-sport, now please give us a rundown on Ryan Moore's status -options.

Greetings ...

To date, Ryan Moore has earned $512,900, and that is good enough for Special Temporary Member status. He can accept an unlimited number of Sponsor Invitations and Top-10 and Ties Finishes. He also has a guaranteed spot in the Final Stage of the 2005 PGA Tour Q-School Finals.

In glancing over the Regular Members Money List, it appears that a figure somewhere between $550,000 and $600,000 (if not more) would be needed to make to the Top 125, and thus be exempt for 2006. A non-member like Moore would need to earn at least as much as the 125th man on the Final Regular Members' Money List for a full exemption in 2006.

Of course, if Ryan Moore wins a tournament between now and the end of 2005, that's a different story!

Thanx-A-Lot, Frank

Unlimited sponser exemptions, that sounds good. He can at least play as much as the guys contending for the top 125. In that case he should have no problem earning enough to by-pass Q school. Nobody wants to go through that unless its the last resort.

I don't think that's necessarily true, is it? Most of the guys contending for the top 125 already have PGA Tour playing privileges, while Moore must rely on Sponsor Exemptions to gain entry into those same events. If that is indeed true, then Moore probably won't have quite as many chances as those already holding tour cards.

While it's not technically true, it's pretty likely that Ryan would be invited by most any event. At least in their first pro year, US Amateur champs tend to be at least somewhat of a draw....enough that most events will give them an exemption.

BTW, thanks Frank-0-Sport...you do great work. I always enjoy reading your posts, as they're full of useful info.

Oh I think Moore will get as many exemptions as there are tournaments left. A sponser would have to be from another planet not to recognize Ryan is a drawing card much the same as Annika or Michele Wie is.

I wouldn't go quite that far. The public fascination with the ventures of those two onto the PGA Tour was possibly only exceeded by the rush of fans to the gates for Tiger Woods in the past 15-20 years. Ryan is a nice player who people would enjoy watching (as I got the chance to do for a hole or two at the 84 Lumber this weekend ), but he's not THAT big of a draw. But I agree, he'll get as many exemptions as he wishes for the rest of the year.

I'm curious Stl, if you were at a tourny where RYan, Annika and Wie were playing in different groups. Whom would you follow?

Jason Gore was a non-member, but because of his win, he became a member, since he chose the membership and he is now on the money list. Go to www.pgatour.com and look under money leaders.

Greetings ...

Well, Well -- So they have indeed moved Jason over to the Regular Members' Money List.

That means that PGA Tour policy hasn't changed in-so-far-as non-members winning an official event and then electing to join the Tour.

That would appear to mean that once again we could have a scenario at the Tour Championship - and/or at the re-scheduled Southern Farm Bureau Classic for that matter - where a non-member wins the event, and then elects to join the PGA Tour, resulting in a shift of positions on the Regular Members' Money List. Specifly, anyone who is at the positions shown below going into the last week of the season is in danger of being dislodged --

#20 (2006 British Open)
#30 (2006 US Open)
#40 (2006 Masters)
#70 (2006 PGA Tour Invitationals)
#80 (2006 Colonial Tournament)
#125 (2006 Full Exemption)
#150 (2006 partial exemption, including unlimited Sponsor Invites and Top-10 Finishes)

An official victory gives any non-member player a victory exemption. If not a winner, then any non-member who earns at least as much money as the 125th player on the Final Regular Members' List is still guaranteed full exempt status for the next year, even if it's just one rung down from the regular Top-125 category. And any non-member who earns at least Special Temporary status will get a free pass into the Finals of PGA Tour Q-School.

Another point -- non-members won't always play as many events as a regular member does (minimum of 15 for regulars) in a given year.

And a personal opinion -- unless a non-member has played a minimum number of competitive rounds (as opposed to events), in addition to meeting minimum money requirements, then such a player should NOT be eligible to compete in the Tour Championship, which until the last 3-4 years, had been reserved exclusively for players who were regular full-time PGA Tour members.


Thanx-A-Lot, Frank-0-Sport

Annika...the greatest player in women's golf history doesn't come around every day ya know. Then I'd take a look at Wie, because she has that potential. Ryan is worth a look, and his swing impressed me in person this Saturday, but best ever or potential best ever he will never be.

Annika may be the best woman, But still only able to beat five guys when she played the PGA. Wie was more impressive, missing the cut by one. But neither can hold a candle to Ryan for golfing ability. I'd watch Ryan any day.

I'd also prefer to watch Wie or Annika. I'd also rather watch a football game between Southern Cal & Texas than one between the Arizona Cardinals and the Minnesota Vikings, even though both the Cards and Vikings would wipe the field with USC or the Longhorns.