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Stakes high for players in Mississippi Associated Press October 27 4:29pm ET | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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MADISON, Miss. -- While heavy hearts remain, there is still a job to do and plenty at stake for golfers in the Southern Farm Bureau Classic.
They believe that Payne Stewart, the U.S. Open champion killed in a plane accident Monday, would want it that way. "When we get out there, you get into the grind and go," Mayfair said Wednesday. "Off the golf course, you are constantly reminded, you see the flag at half-mast, see it on television. But I know that Payne would want everything this week to continue and to run as smoothly as possible." Like the Tour Championship in Houston, the Southern Farm Bureau will begin play as scheduled Thursday and then suspend all activities Friday, the day Stewart's funeral will be held in Orlando, Fla. The Southern Farm will then be shortened to 54 holes in order for the event to end on Sunday as scheduled. Mayfair is 49th in the World Golf Rankings, and likely needs a solid showing at Annandale to remain in the top 50 and be part of the field at Valderrama in Spain next week. "That's obviously one of my goals being here," Mayfair said. "There are two or three guys here, two or three guys in Houston and a couple of guys in Europe who can knock me out. All I can do is just play the best I can here and hopefully be on a plane to Spain on Sunday night." Mayfair has had an up-and-down year, as evidenced by his last seven tournaments. He missed three cuts, but had four top-20 finishes, including the last two weeks in Las Vegas and Orlando. While Mayfair is looking at more immediate goals, Kendall is hoping his sore back will heal enough for him to play Thursday. He withdrew from Wednesday's pro-am. Kendall, a 12th-year pro who is 38th on the PGA Tour money list, wants to protect the top-40 ranking that will guarantee his first Masters tournament invitation next year. A victory in the Southern Farm Bureau Classic could even boost him into the top 30 and earn him spots in the other three majors. "If The Masters wasn't involved, I don't think I'd be here," Kendall said. "The top 30 is also a big incentive. That was a goal of mine at the beginning of the year, and I wanted to see if I could accomplish that." Andrew Magee, 41st on the money list, said the chance to qualify for The Masters is the only reason he is at Annandale. "That is why I'm here, the only reason," Magee said. "It's a long year and I'd rather be home with my family, but I want that invitation to The Masters." For others, the goal is to avoid another trip to PGA Tour Qualifying School and be able to play in tournaments next year. The top 131 golfers on the money list, based on a soft 125 that takes into account foreign players on the list, will retain their cards on the PGA Tour. Those between 132 and 150 on the list will have only limited playing privileges for next season. "There definitely is added pressure, but you can only do the best you can," said Eric Booker, who is 125th on the money list. "I'm not out here just to keep my card, I'm preparing to win the tournament. If I win, everything else takes care of itself." Booker, who played at Mississippi State, is among 31 players in the Southern Farm Bureau Classic currently ranked between 110 and 150 on the money list. Thirty-five of the next 50 are also entered.
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Southern Farm Bureau Classic field
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