US TOUR:THE SCRAMBLE to retain a PGA Tour card continues this week at CordeValle Golf Club in San Jose.
The Frys.com Open, last year won by Troy Matteson at Scottsdale, Arizona, moves to the California venue and starts this evening.
Although most of the tour’s top money winners will not be competing, there are still some strong names who will be featuring. Among them are David Duval, Pat Perez, JB Holmes, Justin Leonard, Rory Sabbatini, Chris DiMarco, Jon Daly, Aaron Baddeley, Ricky Barnes, Lee Janzen and Rocco Mediate.
Traditionally, the autumn tour series is the preserve of players lower down on the money list – with the top 125 keeping their card for the following season’s tour.
“You’re seeing the working golfer,” Matteson explained. “Guys in the high 120s to 130s. It’s like a job interview. You have some control over it, but there are 156 guys to beat.”
Among the outsiders is Santa Cruz’s Isaac Weintraub, who outlasted 17 other professionals in a shoot-out last month to earn a place in his first PGA Tour event.
“I’m definitely starting to get really excited for this,” said Weintraub, who played in college at neighbouring San Jose State. “I’m looking at this as a good opportunity to make something happen. But, unless I win, it won’t do anything for what I’m doing next year.”
However, with 157 players in the field this weekend, the odds are stacked against a man who is also due to compete in the tour’s qualifying school later this month in Hawaii.
Matteson broke a tour record in winning last year’s Frys.com Open, when he set a 36-hole record by shooting 61 in both the second and third rounds of the event.
He beat Rickie Fowler and Jamie Lovemark in a three-man play-off to win the tournament.
The Lowdown
Venue: CordeValle Golf Club, San Martin, California.
Course: Designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr, the 7,368-yard course makes full use of hillsides and canyons.
Prize money:€3.6 million (winner receives €640,000).
Defending champion:Troy Matteson.
Field: 157.
Irish players: None.
On TV:Sky Sports 3 from 9pm tonight.
Weather: Sunny each day.
