Beginner's luck? Expect a first-time winner in Vegas  Robert Garrigus said that the 68 that he shot on Saturday was better than the 63 that he shot on Friday. From early Saturday morning, the wind started gusting around TPC Summerlin playing havoc with golf balls. Add to the fact that the hole locations on Saturday were much more difficult than the players faced earlier in the week, and the players were in for a tough test. Saturday's scoring average soared to more than a shot and a half over par.  Robert Garrigus is tied for second in Vegas. (Schultz/WireImage)
Garrigus' 68 was not the best round of the day, it was second. Everyone will be chasing the affable George McNeill, whose 67 was not only the low round of the day but stakes him to a five-shot lead. Last year's Qualifying School medalist has his first ever 54-hole lead on the PGA Tour. At this point last year, he was an assistant pro at Forest Country Club in Fort Meyers, Fla., getting ready for the first stage of Qualifying School. The 32 year old was making his ninth trip to golf's annual test. On Sunday, he can ensure that he won't be returning there any time soon. But there is more at stake than just a title for George and some of his chasers. He entered the week 122nd on the money list. Regardless of whether or not he wins the title, any top five finish would solidify a spot for George in the top 125. Robert Garrigus and D.J. Trahan are both sure to be exempt in 2008 as well. With over $900,000 in earnings, Robert will definitely finish in the top 125. D.J. came into the week 126th on the money list, but his win last year at the Viking Classic makes the top 125 only relevant for a couple of reasons. Firstly, if he finishes there, he will be in the Players Championship next year.  George McNeill has the lead at TPC Summerlin. (/PGA TOUR) But none of these men will be concerned about the money list going into Sunday. George's successful trip through all three stages of q-school last year dramatically changed his life. A win on Sunday could make those changes permanent. Kent Jones, or "Mr. October"as his friends call him back home, hasn't changed his life much at all over the past several years. Once again, Kent finds himself in a position to need to play well coming down the stretch to keep his playing privileges on the PGA TOUR. He came into the week 152nd on the money list. But unlike others who find themselves in a similar position, Kent is worried. "I seem to be here every year. I would love to be known as Mr. February or Mr. March, but for some reason, I always seem to play well late," Kent said following his third round 68. Kent heads into Sunday tied for fourth at 12-under par. He went on to say that the first thing that he needed to take care of was finishing in the top 150 so that he would at least have some limited status on TOUR next year. It won't be surprising if he takes care of that on Sunday.  Kent Jones is tied for 4th at the Frys.com Open. (Messerschmidt/WireImage) After all, Kent has finished between 101 and 130 on the money list each of the last five years. There are only four more Sundays in the PGA Tour season. As the final one nears, the story lines become a little more dramatic. Players can change the bad fortunes if they can somehow push through. For Kent Jones, it is about doing something that he has done before. But for Robert Garrigus and George McNeill, Sunday brings a set of challenges neither man has ever faced before. Trying to win a PGA TOUR event for the first time is not for the faint of heart. Emotions that you never imagined invade your psyche and throw off your equilibrium. You can't know how you will handle the situation until you face it. Sunday should be exciting for a lot of reasons. We will see who has found a home for another year on golf's grandest stage. And we will likely crown a first time winner. |
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