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Grind Guy · #1 (**permalink**) May 15th, 2007, 01:30 PM

Anyone follow the Natiowide Tour? Those guys are tough. I'm following four players around while they're trying to get to the PGA Tour. Midsize markets, so-so accomodations, on the road for 30 weeks a year, and small purses. It's definitely a grind. If you got some time, check out The Grind 2007. That's where I'm telling their stories! It's really intriguing stuff, all about life as a pro golfer. And I got Odyssey Golf to sponsor the whole. This project is sweet!

macon6 · #2 (**permalink**) May 18th, 2007, 04:17 PM

I do when I can as I love to see who might be coming up.

It also seems that a lot of former Nationwide players are doing fairly well on the big Tour this year - Boo, Z. Johnson etc. and that has peaked my interest.

Thanks for the link grind guy, I will check it out when I have a chance.

macon6 · #3 (**permalink**) May 19th, 2007, 11:42 AM

Hey grind guy, I checked out your link - very cool site and you have a very cool job there.

Do you get to spend time with those players off the course?

m6

Grind Guy · #4 (**permalink**) May 22nd, 2007, 10:40 PM

I try to! These guys are great. We are in Maryland this week and they are shutting down the local Six Flags for the Tour. I think I might check it out!

The better I get to know them, the better the interviews go. We actually, now that I think of it, spend a good amount of time together when you add it all up.

oakas · #5 (**permalink**) May 30th, 2007, 12:12 AM

Hey Grind. Thanks for posting your website. Very nice.

I have been following this tour since it started in 1990.
We had a tour stop here in Sioux City for many years. I have seen some great players go through this tour. We lost our stop here when Gateway pulled out their sponsorship.

Man do I miss going out and watching these guys hit the ball.

macon6 · #6 (**permalink**) June 1st, 2007, 02:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oakas

Hey Grind. Thanks for posting your website. Very nice.

I have been following this tour since it started in 1990.
We had a tour stop here in Sioux City for many years. I have seen some great players go through this tour. We lost our stop here when Gateway pulled out their sponsorship.

Man do I miss going out and watching these guys hit the ball.

@oakas - I think they are playing this week outside of Chicago. That's not too for you is it? Or else, I also think there is an event in Omaha later this summer.

@grindguy - I love that video of those guys rolling the green on those wacky machines on your site. I always wondered how they did that. And I sent Ricky Barnes and e-mail question - don't suppose you could encourage him to answer it for me?

m6

oakas · #7 (**permalink**) June 2nd, 2007, 01:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macon6

@oakas - I think they are playing this week outside of Chicago. That's not too for you is it? Or else, I also think there is an event in Omaha later this summer.

@grindguy - I love that video of those guys rolling the green on those wacky machines on your site. I always wondered how they did that. And I sent Ricky Barnes and e-mail question - don't suppose you could encourage him to answer it for me?

m6

Hey macon. Chicago is a pretty long trip for me. We are on the far western border of the state.

I have made it down to Omaha on about 5 occaisions.

macon6 · #8 (**permalink**) June 4th, 2007, 10:21 AM

@oakas - The Nationwide event in Omaha is July 26-29 according to PGAtour.com. Maybe you can make it there.

Cox Classic
Jul 26 - 29
Purse: $650,000
Champions Run
Omaha, Nebraska

macon6 · #9 (**permalink**) June 18th, 2007, 11:36 AM

@grindguy - very interesting interview with Ben Bates regarding the tour politics. Seems that he is very involved and willing to speak his mind. Also nice video up there dood.

Im still up! · #10 (**permalink**) June 18th, 2007, 05:18 PM

Are you going to be in Knoxville this week for the Knoxville Open?

***shaderunner*** · #11 (**permalink**) July 2nd, 2007, 10:58 AM

Well the Nationwide Tour's visibility should be on the rise...second-place finish for Jay Williamson last week in a playoff and Brian Bateman birdies the 72nd hole this week to snatch the Buick Open from a log jam at -14. I would say the NW Tour does a fine job of preparing these guys.

Shade

bump-n-run · #12 (**permalink**) July 2nd, 2007, 02:30 PM

The nationwide is probably a life of luxury compared to the Hooters tour...

***shaderunner*** · #13 (**permalink**) July 2nd, 2007, 04:23 PM

Quote:

As much as he tried Sunday, Jay Williamson couldn't hide his disappointment when he walked off the 18th green at Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club.

Williamson could only think about how much money he threw away by failing to convert a great birdie chance at the 17th hole and then bogeying the 18th. Williamson needs every dollar he can muster in the bid to regain his PGA Tour card.

At the same time, Williamson couldn't be too unhappy since two weeks ago he was playing on the Nationwide Tour and needed sponsor's exemptions to get into PGA Tour events.

He got one at last week's Travelers Championship, where he lost in a playoff to Hunter Mahan to collect $648,000. The top 10 there got him into the Buick Open, where a closing round of 3-under-par 69 left him tied for 20th at 10-under and $51,100 richer.

With $699,100 in winnings the last two weeks, Williamson is on the verge of regaining his PGA Tour card for next year. He only needs about $50,000 in the final four months to do so.

"I'm more disappointed right now than I was last week after bogeying that last hole," Williamson said. "I played really well today."

A birdie and par on the last two holes likely would have given Williamson enough to regain his card since he would have jumped into a tie for 10th, which was worth $108,616.

"That would have really let me relax these next couple of months," he said. "I would have been in a lot better shape. When I go to bed tonight, I'll be a lot more satisfied. But I'm really ticked at myself.

"I can't let my perspective get the best of me right now even though it is. My perspective two weeks ago was playing the Nationwide Tour. Now I'm out of there. I'm very satisfied but I'm still frustrated."

His earnings this season have given Williamson special temporary status on the PGA Tour, meaning he can accept unlimited sponsor's exemptions for the remainder of the season. He already has one for the John Deere Classic in two weeks.

MLive.com: Everything Michigan

Shade

Grind Guy · #14 (**permalink**) July 3rd, 2007, 03:54 PM

Sorry to be MIA.

FYI - Omaha is one of the best events (even though it isn't considered a "Major" out here). The 18th green is designed like a stadium and on Sunday, when the fans pack it in, it is absolutely electrifying. Parties are great too - huge celebrations a couple of nights. Hopefully I'll be there...budget allowing.

Grind Guy · #15 (**permalink**) July 3rd, 2007, 03:54 PM

By the way, I'll be in Columbus next week. Anyone going to be there?

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