Power Rankings: Nationwide Tour Championship

text size

And then there were 60.

That's the size of the field for this week's year-ending Nationwide Tour Championship at Daniel Island. The final tournament of the season has a $1 million purse with $180,000 going to the winner. What the final tournament also brings is plenty of drama.

The tournament, which will be broadcast by the Golf Channel, will bring an end to a season that has had just about everything as players jockeyed for position on the money list each week. When the final putt drops on Sunday only the top 25 on the final money list will get PGA TOUR cards for 2012.

There was plenty of pressure this past Sunday at the Winn-Dixie Jacksonville Open as players scrambled to get into the top 60 on the money list.

With so much at stake we've expanded this week's Power Rankings to the top 10.

Power Rankings: Nationwide Tour Championship

Rank   Player Comment Gavin COLES Strike while the iron is hot, and even though he's in good shape to earn his PGA TOUR card, he will not let up this week. He's come a long way since earlier in the season when he missed 12 straight cuts. Jonas BLIXT It's almost unfair that the former Florida State player and one of the sharpest dressers on the Tour hasn't won this season. He finished second to Coles Sunday and his consistency has been staggering. It wouldn't be a surprise to see him win this week. Danny LEE Players with the great talent that Lee possesses usually rise to the challenge in the biggest events. And make no mistake about it, the Nationwide Tour Championship is the biggest of the season. Look for Lee, who won earlier this season, to be in contention. Mark ANDERSON He started last week as the bubble boy at No. 25 but did himself a huge favor with a good finish on Sunday in Jacksonville. He is now 19th on the money list and another good week would give keep him inside the top 25. Brian SMOCK He doesn't exactly come in with a head of steam after missing his last two cuts, but he did tie for fifth in last year's Nationwide Tour Championship. Smock is one of those guys who comes in looking to make a serious move. He's No. 37 on the money list. Paul CLAXTON Claxton is another guy who is back from last year's Tour Championship, where he finished in solo 10th. Claxton is 38th on the money list, but he has only three top-10s this year. If he can get a fourth top-10 he just might make a move inside the top 25. John KIMBELL Beware of the players who made a big jump this past week in Jacksonville. He was on the outside of the top 60 but a third-place finish put him at 57th on the money list. He's made three-straight cuts improving his finish in each tournament. David LINGMERTH Like Kimbell, he was wondering if he would even be playing this week, but a tie for seventh pushed him from 75th to 50th on the money list. He's had four top 10s this season and is coming off a tournament where he shot 74-65-68-69 in tough conditions. Roger TAMBELLINI Even though he missed the cut in Jacksonville he made the Tour Championship thanks to finishing No. 60 on the money list. For some reason those guys that just make it into the field tend to play better. He finished tied for third two weeks ago. Kirk TRIPLETT There's always a place for the guy who wears the bucket hat and while he hasn't played a lot on the Nationwide Tour he's capable of contending. Triplett has a win in just nine starts and because of his veteran status won't be feeling that much pressure.

John Dell has covered golf for the Winston-Salem Journal in North Carolina for the last 18 years. His views do not necessarily represent the views of the PGA TOUR. You can reach him at johndell@triad.rr.com.