Chasing the magic card

As the season ends, the pros have to brace up to get into the major tours next year

A 'Tour Card' "" it is a magic phrase. As long as a pro golfer has it in his hand, the world looks the greatest place to be in. And if they miss it, often by a whisker, there is nothing more crushing. But the quality of golf that the player is capable of has nothing to do with it.

The home stretch for most tours "" barring those in India and South Africa "" is October and early November. That's when the major tours start winding up for the year. While the top stars start cooling off "" unless you are Vijay Singh trying to reach the $10-million mark or an Ernie Els trying to take a shot at No. 1 spot, now held by Vijay "" those on the fringe go all out to secure the money that will ensure them a 'Tour Card' and a 'job' next season. Or else, it is back to the Qualifying School once again.

No one is weighing this prospect more starkly than Arjun Atwal. The Indian star was felicitated last year when he became the top star in Asia. He then added to that by coming through the US PGA Qualifying School which allowed him to play in the biggest and richest golf tour in the world.

Ten months on, he has earned $299,184, which in Asia would have given him the second place. But on the US PGA, he stood 158th. And to ensure that he does not have to go to Q-School again, he needs to get to around $600,000, which is double what he has earned so far.

The top 125 money earners get to keep the card for the following year while the rest go back to Q- School.

Meanwhile, Daniel Chopra has sewn up his card with earnings of $ 744,471 and is 95th on the Money List.

On the face of things, there might seem to be a world of difference between Atwal's $299,000 and Chopra's $744,471. The real fact is that there isn't as much of a difference. Two good weeks, even without a win, can bridge that gap.

For instance, Chopra in his first eight events managed just over $37,000. And in his first 21 events, he had little over $256,000, way off the target he needed to stay on the elite tour. Then his luck changed.

In five events starting from the Buick Championships to the Deutsche Bank Open, Chopra had three top tens in five starts and he was back in business again as he went past $700,000.

Those five weeks included an eighth place worth $135,000 (Buick), a ninth place worth $75,000 at Reno Tahoe and a tied fourth place worth $220,000 at Deutsche Bank, where Vijay Singh overtook Tiger Woods for the World No. 1 spot.

So, as Atwal tees up each week, he is looking for that one or two big weeks. But then so are many others.

The case is the same on virtually every other Tour. In Europe, the battle is for the top 115 places. On the Asian Tour, the top 60 stay on, while the rest return to Q-School.

This year none of the Indians played much on the European Tour, even though Atwal got full exemption on the strength of a title each in 2002 and 2003. Jyoti Randhawa and Jeev Milkha Singh, while concentrating on Japan, occasionally played on big money European events but primarily because they were co-sanctioned with the Asian Tour.

Jeev, who in the last couple of seasons has done more flights than any other Asian professional shuttling between Japan, European and Nationwide besides Asian Tour events, was more settled in Japan this year. And the results showed with a steady 30th place on the Money List in Japan.

Jeev with ¥ 21,419,000 is currently 30th on the Japanese Money List while Jyoti Randhawa is well under the cut-off line with ¥ 13,4593,000 in the 54th place. The top 70 get to keep their cards. Randhawa, one of the winners in 2003, is exempt for the 2005 season since winners get a two-year exemption.

There are six Indians "" Jyoti Randhawa (third), Rahil Gangjee (31st), Amandeep Johl (32nd), Harmeet Kahlon (38th), Jeev Milkha (45th) and Gaurav Ghei (49th) "" in the top 60 on Asian Tour.

At least four others have an outside chance of making it to the list before the season is over. For that to happen, the likes of Arjun Singh (82nd), Feroz Ali (84th), Vivek Bhandari (87th) and Uttam Singh Mundy (90th) need to strike some good finishes in the remaining events.

There are three big events with prizes ranging between $200,000 and $300,000. But to get into the 'biggies' like Volvo China, Hong Kong Open and the season-ending Volvo Masters of Asia (worth $550,000), the players would need to get into the top 60 of the Merit List.

As as they say in golf, the money looks great from outside, but when you are struggling to catch up , every dollar looks like a million bucks. No one knows that better Daniel Chopra who finished 21st on the Nationwide Money List last year. The top 20 got the coveted US PGA card.

The difference between the 20th and 21st place was less than $200! So, he had to trudge to the Q-School. But determined as he was, Daniel not only made a comeback with a sixth place but with a superlative performance this year, he has ensured that he will stay on in 2005. But that's only for a year. So like everyone else, Chopra needs to be on his toes.