Sports 29
Ponte Vedra Recorder · October 15, 2015
Web.com Tour
Continued from 29
a nerve-wracking experience because
of the importance of a PGA Tour card.
Without one, it’s nearly impossible to
play on the PGA Tour because nonmembers are limited in the number
of events they can play with special
exemptions.
The tournament was such a nervous
time that Robert Garrigus, one of those
trying to regain his PGA Tour playing
status, said, “It’s like the first hole at
The Masters all four days.”
That’s serious golf, the longest job
interview ever, conducted over a fourweek series of tournaments. Appropriately, rain or at least dark and threatening clouds filled the forecast every day.
Despite the gloomy weather, 50 people
walked away thrilled that they had
earned either their first shot at the PGA
Tour or had regained playing status
for another year. For the other 100, it’s
back to the Web.com Tour and another
year before they can try again.
The three biggest winners were Patton Kizzire, who won the Web.com
season money list, Chez Reavie, who
won The Finals money list, and Emiliano Grillo, who won the Web.com
Championship event.
While all three got PGA Tour cards,
both Kizzire and Reavie got what is
called the golden ticket, after the Willie Wonka movie, because they are
fully exempt, meaning they can enter
any non-invitational tournament in the
2015-16 season. In addition Kizzire and
Reavie earned spots in The Players.
Patton attended Auburn where he
won the 2007 SEC Conference Championship. He lives at Sea Island and is
taller than Davis Love.
Photos Provided
Web.com Tour fans wait for the winner at the TPC Valley Course.
“I’ve always dreamed of playing in
the tournament out here,” Patton said
about The Players. “To be so close to
home and to get a chance to come out
here and compete again, that will be
pretty special.”
Reavie won the Canadian Open in
2008. He is also a past champion of the
USGA Public Links.
“It’s everything,” said Reavie about
getting his PGA Tour card back. “A
couple years ago I was hurt and didn’t
know where I was going to end up,
and here I am playing the best golf of
my life, and I’ve got a spot back on
T