Andrade hoping for pre-Playoffs power surge

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Aug. 14, 2008
By Helen Ross, PGATOUR.COM Chief of Correspondents

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Billy Andrade has just had two weeks off, so he certainly doesn't want to be idle another four.

"I think my wife will kill me at home," Andrade said, grinning.

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Billy Andrade is one of many players hoping to play their way into the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup this week.

That's exactly the prospect facing the four-time PGA TOUR champion, though, if he doesn't work his way into the top 144 in the FedExCup standings at the end of this week's Wyndham Championship.

The tournament at historic Sedgefield Country Club is the final event before the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup begin next week. Andrade entered the tournament ranked No. 182 -- which is 781 points out of the final qualifying spot.

Andrade gave himself a shot when he opened the $5.1 million event Thursday with a 66 that left him three strokes off the lead held by Martin Laird and Bob Heintz. The round of 4 under tied his low of the season shot at Congressional during AT&T National.

The way Andrade sees things, he's got nothing to lose.

"I've had a terrible year," the former Wake Forest All-American said bluntly. "It's the time of year where if you get it rolling, and if I can win here and get some confidence going -- all it takes is one week and every player knows that.

"There's a lot at stake this tournament (and) for the next month (whether) it's guys trying to get in the top 30, guys trying to get in the top 100, guys like myself who are out trying to get in. This is a big week for everybody.

"So this was a good start."

Andrade only has one top-20 finish this year and has earned just $191,935 to rank 183rd on the money list. He needs to work his way back into the top 125 -- where he's been for 18 of his 20 previous years on TOUR -- to be fully exempt for next season.

Regardless of whether Andrade is able to make the Playoffs with a good finish in Greensboro, he will have seven events in the PGA TOUR Fall Series to add to his bank account and secure his playing privileges. And make no mistake, Andrade isn't looking to make a career change.

"Every now and then I go, 'What am I doing out here? We need to figure something out,'" Andrade said. "But I love it. I love the competition even when I'm not playing good. I love practicing. I love the grind. This is all I know right now."

The 44-year-old Andrade draws inspiration from players like Kenny Perry, a three-time winner this year at the age of 48, and Jay Haas, who made the Ryder Cup team at 49. He says his recent spate of sub-par play has been more difficult on his wife and two children.

"Now my kids are all over me -- 'did you miss the cut again? -- stuff like that," Andrade said. "It's like, hey, look at this tape. I did well in this tournament 15 years ago. They don't care about that. They want it now.

"My son followed me the other day, and I didn't have a good day. He was really bummed out. It's more tough on them than me. I want to play well for them so they can get excited about it."

Thursday's round was a start. He got up and down from the greenside bunker at the par-5 fifth for his first birdie, then rolled in putts of 7, 3, 39 and 24 feet for the others. Andrade's lone bogey came when he missed the green at the par-3 12th, chipped on and left himself an unsuccessful 41-footer for par.

Such short game miscues have been Andrade's nemesis this year. He's 200th in putting, 190th in putts per round and 152nd in sand save percentage converting less than 50 percent. He's been working with sports psychologist Dick Coop in an effort to turn things around.

"Putting, chipping, putting, getting the ball in the hole," Andrade said, ticking off the litany of areas he's addressing. "Hit one in close and make it instead of miss. If you miss a green, you chip it up there and then you miss. You're on a par 5, you're in front of the green in two and don't make birdie.

"You want me to keep going? Hit it 10 feet on a really hard hole and you three-putt. There's a lot of things that go when you're not confident with your putting and (when) that happens and you can't play out there. You can't be competitive. ... You have to be able to score and putt and get on a roll. I've done that my whole career.

"I'm working my tail off. It just hasn't happened yet."

Andrade knows it needs to happen soon, though. And there's no time like the present.

"I want to play," he said. "We all want to play, and that's the way the new schedule is set up. So we'll see. You can have a terrible year, and a couple of weeks can turn (it) into a great one."