The magic number for PGA Tour rookies is 125. They know it; everyone knows it. It can flash through the subconscious at the top of a backswing or in the middle of a dream, causing nerves to tingle and palms to sweat.
A tour player must finish in the top 125 on the official money list to retain full playing privileges for the following year, unless he already holds a multiyear exemption.
Kevin Stadler is sweating. He is 144th in 2005 earnings with $293,191. Last year it took $623,262 to finish 125th, and this year’s cutoff likely will rise because of increased purses.
Stadler, the 25-year-old son of 1982 Masters champion Craig Stadler, has some work to do. With the 2005 tournament schedule having made the turn, Stadler can’t afford to take a break and miss a chance to make money.
A top-three finish, for example, could secure his 2006 status with one fat payday.
“Fortunately, if you have a good stretch of three or four weeks, you’re set,” Stadler said.
Until that happens, Stadler plans to continue the weekly grind and hope he can crack the top 125 with a collection of smaller checks. He already has played in 21 PGA Tour events and may finish with more than 30.
“I don’t think I’ll get worn down because I’ve had a lot of Saturdays and Sundays off, unfortunately,” said Stadler, who has missed the cut 12 times.
An all-state golfer at Kent Denver, Stadler now resides in Scottsdale, Ariz. He hardly remembers the place, having spent so much time on the road. Most of it has been a struggle. During a particularly discouraging stretch beginning in early May in New Orleans, Stadler missed the cut seven times in eight weeks.
“I’ve played about as bad as I could play,” he said.
He showed signs of emerging from the slump when he tied for 10th two weeks ago in the John Deere Classic, adding a career-best $100,000 to his bank account. After a third-round 65 the following week in the B.C. Open, another good payday appeared to be within his reach. But Stadler shot a 72 on Sunday and earned $6,925, slipping five notches on the money list after beginning the week at No. 139.
The way Stadler looks at it, he hasn’t given himself much of a chance to go low because of wildness off the tee. He ranks 156th among tour players in driving accuracy.
“I can’t get it off the tee this year, and I’m chipping out too much,” Stadler said. “My driver has been bad all year. It’s gone from about the best club in my bag to almost being afraid to hit it.”
J.J. Henry, a fifth-year pro who played with Stadler during the final round of the 2004 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, said he believes it’s all about finding a comfort zone.
“I like the way Kevin plays; he’s got a lot of talent,” Henry said. “The sky is the limit for him as long as he stays patient. Like anything else, there’s a learning curve.”
Rookie years can be difficult for athletes in any sport. Stadler beat the odds last year when he became an overnight sensation on the Nationwide Tour. He won twice and finished 13th in earnings to automatically gain exempt status on the 2005 PGA Tour.
The PGA Tour is a different animal. Competition is tougher. Rough is thicker. Greens are slicker. Fairways are narrower. And the pressure grows the more you struggle.
“Kevin definitely has a good enough game to stay out here,” said Brandt Jobe, a fellow Kent Denver alumnus. “It’s just a process to get comfortable.”
A former Pac-10 Conference player of the year at Southern California, the 5-foot-10, 250-pound Stadler has plenty of length to compete with the big boys, ranking 15th in driving distance (299.4). That has enabled him to rank third in eagles (one per every 99.8 holes). Better accuracy off the tee no doubt would improve the greens in regulation (87th) and birdie average (75th) categories.
Craig Stadler, the 2004 Champions Tour player of the year, calls his son periodically to offer encouragement.
“Dad just tells me to stay patient,” Stadler said. “He keeps saying that things will turn around.”
Tom Kensler can be reached at 303-820-5456 or tkensler@denverpost.com.
