Sleeping Through the Final Round of the Mercedes-Benz Championship.

It looks like Geoff Ogilvy is going to win the 2009 Mercedes-Benz Championship without me. I suppose he'll survive. I was fortunate to receive a nice promotion at work, but more money means more hours. They expect me there at 6:00 AM tomorrow, so I'm going into coma mode right after posting this. The five hour time difference from here to Hawaii precludes the rare prime time viewing opportunity. That's different, but what's really odd is while on Maui, some years ago, I was watching an NFL game at 9:00 AM. The beer was still fine!

As of right this very minute Ogilvy enjoys a five stroke advantage over Anthony Kim through 13 holes. He sits at -22. Kim is one in front of a surging Sean O'Hair, who is 7 under through 14 holes. DL III continues his quest to earn a spot in the Masters and is tied with O'Hair at -16 along with Justin Leonard. Looks like Geoff earns the tour's 1st victory of 2009 and a spot here next year. Tune in the Golf Channel to watch or follow scores online.

Be sure to hit my comments section if someone overtakes Ogilvy.

Til' next,

Davis Love III Over Tommy "Two Gloves" in Thriller at Disney.

Davis Love III shot his second consecutive 64 to hold off a back nine charge by Tommy "Two Gloves" Gainey and win the 2008 Children's Miracle Network Classic at Disney World Resort. Gainey's 30 on the back nine almost had the victory he needed to retain his card. Instead it's back to Q school for the two-time Big Break contestant. Love III finished at -25, one stroke better than Gainey, and knocked a treacherous bunker shot on the 18th to within three feet and sealed the victory. $828,000.00 was pocketed by Love III for the triumph.

It was a two man battle as the nearest finishers were Steve Marino and Scott Verplank, each at -20, 4 strokes in arrears. Joe Durant's superb 65 in the final round gave him solo 5th place. The trio of Scott Sterling, Kevin Streelman, and Troy Matteson finished at -18, T6.

Average Golfer was pulling for Gainey, the every man's representative. His 2nd place finish moved him 40 spots on the money list from 208 to 168, but it was a win he needed to secure his card for 2009. In the glass half full category, he'll have a confidence boost going into Q school. I'm certain we'll see more of Gainey. Everyone refers to his work ethic and drive. That's a huge part of the battle on the tour.

Bubble News

The results are in after this, the last tournament of the season. The "Thank God" spot, #125, belongs to Martin Laird. Those keeping their jobs by a whisker were Brad Adamonis, 124, Jason Bohn, 123, Angel Cabrera, 122, Nick Watney, 121, and Brett Quigley, 120. Those wishing they'd played better earlier in the year included Shane Bertsch, 126, Bob Estes, 127, Patrick Sheehan, 128, Joe Durant, 129, and Charles Warren, 130. $11,504.00 separated Laird and Bertsch, the difference between 126 and 125. Here's the final 2008 money list for your perusal.

Now is when writing on a golf site separates the men from the boys. Two months of "not much" will test Average Golfer's imagination. Maybe I'll start doing a series of reviews on golf tees. Perhaps throw in a contest with the winner receiving a free tee! Gotta nice ring to it.

Til' next,

Eclectic Bunch Atop Children's Miracle Network Classic Leaderboard.

Someone for everyone. A certain Hall -of-Famer, a grizzled veteran with many wins and Ryder Cups in his pocket, a young upstart, a Big Break contestant, the man with the shortest putter, (28 in.), a rookie of the year candidate, and the group of veterans you'd expect heading into the last lap of the 2008 season, the final round of the Children's Miracle Network Classic.

Steve Marino is bogey free for the tournament and his 66 today left him tied with Scott

Verplank, who slipped with a 69. Hard to believe that a 69 would get you going backwards, but it did today. Both are tied at -19. Davis Love III shot 64 today to claim solo 2nd place, -17, going into Sunday. Tied for 5th spot at-16 were Tommy "Two Gloves" Gainey, Robert Garrigus, he of the midget putter, and Troy Matteson, whose 69 today backed him up from 2nd to 5th. Locked in 8th position at -14 were Ken "Of Hazard" Duke, Robert Gamez, last spotted at the Hope, Jason Gore, and Kevin Streelman.

Notables that didn't make the weekend were Steve Elkington, Daniel Chopra, Jesper Parnevik, Bubba Watson, Brad Adamonis, Charles Warren, Ryan Moore, Jay Williamsom, and Fred Couples. Adamonis, Warren, and Williamson shot themselves in the foot and out of the chase for their 2009 Tour card. Spots 126-150 have some provisional status though, especially in the lesser events that play at the same time as the big tournaments. Still, I'm sure they're all crestfallen. I've been just dying to use crestfallen in Average Golfer.

The back nine tomorrow will show you how PGA players do or don't handle pressure. Anyone that's near the magic 125 has to be trying to figure what he has to shoot to be in the club. Geez, as if golf's not head game enough.

Til' next,

Bubble Boys Battle for Top 125 at Turning Stone.

If only everyone was paid for performance. Teachers, brick layers, cops, waitresses. Oh, waitresses already are. That's why I think it's inexcusable to stiff a waitress if she's anything above Medusa. Well the boys of the PGA Tour are smack dab in the middle of pay for performance. Only the top 125 survive with the prize of having a job for another year. The 2nd installment of the Fall Series, the Turning Stone Resort Championship, is the drama bearer. The total purse of 6 million, with just over 1 million to the winner, makes this the richest event in the series.

Davis Love III, ranked 155 on the money list, has his sights set on this week. He's run out of exemptions, over his injury steak, and thinks he's got a lot of golf left. Who am I to argue? I hope we see him making Freddy proud in next year's President's Cup. Davis is the kind of guy that only makes the entire tour better, so I'm counting on a resurgence.

Take a guy like Vaughn Taylor, currently the poster/bubble boy, the 125th man on the money list. Everyone within shouting distance, ahead or behind him is coveting his spot come year end. Proof in the pudding is that the seven players right behind him are all entered this week. Jason Gore, Charles Warren, Dustin Johnson, Jason Day, Marc Turnesa, James Driscoll, and Michael Allen all have Taylor in their sights. Livelihoods are at stake here. There's more pure melodrama now than at any, millionaires only, limited field event.

An interesting side story is the higher ranked players trying to increase their ranking to get into prestigious events. The top thirty on the money list at year's end are entitled to automatic Masters and US Open invites. Sponsor's exemptions this week include Joey Sindelar, Danny Lee, US Amateur champion, Notah Begay III, whose tournament benefiting Native American youth was held here earlier this year, and Ryder Cup assistant captain Olin Browne. The Atunyote Golf Club is the host and will play to a par 72 at 7,482 yards.

The Patriots are finished, so watch some golf.

Til' next,