On the bubble: THE 25

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Only the top 25 money winners will earn 2009 PGA TOUR cards at the conclusion of the Nationwide Tour Championship at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney (Dallas area), TX, Nov. 6-9. This week's Oregon Classic in Eugene, OR begins the run of the final five events of 2008. The following charts the progress of players who are in the thick of "THE 25" competition (Nos. 16-35), since July's Nationwide Tour Players Cup in West Virginia. The current top 15 money leaders are listed after the chart.

With five events left to play last year, there were 22 players inside the top 25 on the money list who maintained their top-25 status by season's end. The three who played their way into "The 25" by season's end were in 24th, 26th and 43rd positions. Note: There were 32 Tour events in 2007 (vs. 30 this year). The 2007 stats above are based on the first 27 events of the year.

NATIONWIDE TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP AT TPC CRAIG RANCH
There is also an important race playing out to finish in the top 60 on the money list. Cameron Percy of Australia is this week's No. 60. He maintains a $1,363 advantage over Dustin Bray. A top-60 finish after the final full-field event of 2008, the Miccosukee Classic, guarantees a spot in the Nationwide Tour Championship at TPC Craig Ranch. With its $1 million purse and $180,000 first prize, every player who makes it to Craig Ranch in November has a mathematical chance of playing his way into "The 25". Those who finish the season between 26 and 60 on the final money list are fully exempt on the Nationwide Tour in 2009.