Golf: YTD Player Performance (June 2)

Here’s a look at the performance of selected PGA TOUR golfers. Looking back to their 2008 performances and what has been accomplished year-to-date (YTD) in 2009. Key metrics include the Money List and Official World Golf Ratings (OWGR).

Players are characterized as either DECLINING, SUSTAINING or IMPROVING Performance.

What is your assessment?

Aaron Baddeley (DECLINING) was a tournament winner in 2007 (FBR Open). The Aussie who lives in Scottsdale, Ariz., is challenged with his two-year exemption expiring at the end of the 2009 season.

His OWGR has slipped this year from No. 37 to No. 52, though he sits at No. 74 on the YTD Money List (he was No. 49 in 2008).

Baddeley’s best finish this year was T9 at THE PLAYERS. His last international win was the MasterCard Masters in Melbourne, Australia in November 2007.

Adam Scott (DECLINING) was a tournament winner in 2008 (EDS Byron Nelson). The single Aussie who lives in Crans sur Sierre, Switzerland, has a two-year exemption through the 2010 season.

His OWGR has slipped this year from No. 15 to No. 41 though he is safely at No. 70 on the YTD Money List (he was No. 39 in 2008). Scott’s best finish this year was T2 at the SONY Open the second week of the season.

He missed six cuts in a row before making the cut last week and finishing T64 at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial. The 28-year-old golfer’s last international win was the Commercialbank Qatar Masters in January 2008.

Alex Cejka (IMPROVING) has yet to win on the PGA TOUR. The married Czech of German descent who lives in Las Vegas, Nev., is No. 82 on the YTD Money List (was No. 117 in 2008). His OWGR has remained at No. 220 this year.

The 38-year-old player’s best finish this year was T9 at the PLAYERS after having a five-stroke lead after the third round. His last international win was the Trophee Lancome in Paris in September 2002.

Anthony Kim (DECLINING) starred in the American victory in the Ryder Cup last fall and finished T2 at the season opening Mercedes-Benz championship. But he hasn't had another a Top 10 and has missed two of the last four cuts.

The soon to be 24-year-old (June 19) golfer won two times in 2008 (Wachovia and AT&T National) earning himself a three-year exemption through the end of the 2011 season.

The native Californian who now resides in Dallas has slipped to No. 50 on the YTD Money list after finishing No. 6 last year. His OWGR has also slipped from No. 12 to No. 15.

Some point to an aggressive international playing schedule earlier in the year, where he played in Malaysia and Australia, for his slip in performance.

He has hired his college trainer and is committed to getting in better physical shape and regaining his competitive edge.

Ben Crane (IMPROVING) has two PGA TOUR victories, the last of which came at the U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee in 2005. With three Top 10 finishes this year (T7 Buick Invitational, 3rd at Honda Classic, and T5 at THE PLAYERS) and missing 5 out of 14 cuts this year he is currently No. 100 on the Money List.

He finished last year No. 64. The player known for playing slow after an incident with Rory Sabbatini a few years ago has seen his OWGR jump from No. 100 to No. 56 after his strong performance against the strongest field ever assembled at THE PLAYERS Championship.

Ben Curtis (DECLINING), the 2003 British Open Champion, had a strong year in 2008, finishing No. 17 on the Money List after finishing T7 at the British Open, T2 at the PGA Championship and 5th at the TOUR Championship.

His best finish this year is T22 at THE PLAYERS. He has been consistently mediocre, missing only one cut in 10 starts. He has not played the last three weeks in Texas and appears to be resting up for the U.S. Open at Bethpage.

The 32-year-old golfer is No. 104 on the YTD Money List. His OWGR has fallen from No. 24 to No. 31.

Billy Mayfair (DECLINING) is having a horrendous year after finishing No. 44 on the Money List last year. He's now No. 174 YTD. The recently remarried 42-year old has missed 11 out of 15 cuts this year.

His best finish was T32 at THE PLAYERS. His OWGR has plummeted to No.168 after starting the year at No. 92. Mayfair, an Arizona native and Scottsdale resident has five career victories and last won on the PGA TOUR in 1998 at the Buick Open.

Bo Van Pelt (SUSTAINING) the 34-year-old Indiana native turned Okie from Oklahoma State, resides in Tulsa and finished No. 115 on the Money List last year. He has never won on the PGA TOUR.

This year, he has two Top 10s (T5 at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic and T8 at the Transitions Championship), making 9 of 14 cuts. He is currently No. 76 on the Money List and No. 215 in the OWGR starting the year at No. 255.

Bob Estes (IMPROVING), No. 127 on the Money List last year, and has utilized a PGA TOUR Career Money List Top 50 exemption this year to play in 14 events missing only three cuts.

He has one Top 10 this year, a T4 at the rain-shortened AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. He is No. 51 on the Money List and No. 179 on the OWGR starting the year at No. 300.

The 43-year-old golfer, a winner of four PGA TOUR events, the last at the 2002 Kemper Insurance Open, is having a decent year.

Boo Weekly (DECLINING) the Ryder Cup funnyman and hero, was No. 25 on the Money List last year and started the year No. 49 on the OWGR.

He began this year with a Top 10 T9 at the SONY Open in Hawaii and played decently through the Hilton Head-New Orleans-Quail Hollow stretch finishing no lower than tied for 13th. He has two PGA TOUR victories at the Verizon Heritage.

Currently he is No. 56 on the Money List and No. 65 on the OWGR. He last played at The PLAYERS where he withdrew on the 11th hole in the final round with an injury to his left shoulder. He is not scheduled to play in this week’s Memorial Tournament.

Brad Adamonis (DECLINING) came to the PGA TOUR last year through Q-School after four full years on the Nationwide Tour. He finished No. 124 on the Money List and ranked No. 269 in the OWGR after his rookie season.

He began well with a T9 in the third event of the season, the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. Since then he has missed 6 of 14 cuts with his highest finish being a T32 at the Honda Classic.

Obviously grinding, he is No. 131 on the Money List and No. 310 in the OWGR.

Brad Faxon (DECLINING), 37 and a winner of eight PGA TOUR events, is using a PGA TOUR Career Money List Top 25 exemption this year. The champion of the 2005 Buick Championship has played in 13 events missed the cut 11 times.

After ACL surgery on his left leg in December 2007, he played in three events in 2008 and did not earn a single dollar.

In 2007, Faxon played in 18 events and made $84,645. He is unranked in the OWGR (greater than No. 998) and is No. 218 on the Money List this year.

Brandt Snedeker (DECLINING) the darling of the 2008 Masters Tournament (finished T3) finished 2008 at No. 59 on the Money List and No. 65 in the OWGR. The 28-year-old from Nashville, Tenn., has missed 8 of 11 cuts in the PGA TOUR in 2008.

His best finish is 18th at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Club & Lodge. Currently, he is No. 119 on the OWGR and No. 179 on the Money List.

Brett Quigley (IMPROVING) has missed more cuts (8) than he has made (7) on the PGA TOUR in 2009.

He was hot for a while and finished tied for second in back-to back weeks at the Puerto Rico Open and the Transitions Championship.

In 2008, he finished the year at No. 120 on the Money List and No. 223 in the OWGR.

The veteran of 349 PGA TOUR events is yet to win his first tournament and is No. 45 on the Money List and No. 126 on the OWGR.

Brian Bateman (DECLINING) won the 2007 Buick Open. With his two-year exemption expiring at the end of this season he has made only 3 of 13 cuts. His best finish YTD is T52 at the HP Byron nelson Open.

At the end of last season he was No. 197 on the Money List and No. 328 in the OWGR. Currently, he is No. 212 on the Money List and No. 594 in the OWGR.

Brian Davis (IMPROVING) is hot. He finished T5 at THE PLAYERS and T5 the following week at the Valero Texas Open. The next week at the HP Byron Nelson, he posted another T5. Last week at Colonial he cooled off a bit with a T34 finish.

The Englishman finished No. 96 on the Money List last year while ranked No. 205 on the OGWR. YTD he is No. 18 on the Money List and No. 107 on the OWGR.

Brian Gay (IMPROVING) broke through with his second PGA TOUR victory at the Verizon Heritage after winning the 2008 Mayakoba Golf Classic in 2008.

His success seemed destined when he had two Top 10 finishes in his first four events of the year (T5 in the SONY Open and T6 at the FBR Open).

At the end of his 10nth year on Tour last year, he finished No. 31 on the Money List and No. 110 on the OWGR. Currently he is No. 15 on the Money List and No. 55 on the OWGR.

Briny Baird (IMPROVING) has missed only 4 cuts in 15 starts this year. He has posted three Top 10 finishes—T6 at the Mayakoba Golf Classic, T2 at the Verizon Heritage and T8 at the HP Byron Nelson Championship.

He finished last year at No. 37 on the Money List and No. 115 on the OWGR. Currently he is No. 37 on the Money List and No. 92 on the OWGR. He has yet to win in 289 PGA TOUR starts.

Bubba Watson (IMPROVING) has played consistently on the PGA TOUR this year in pursuit of his first victory. He has made 8 of 12 cuts and has two Top 10 finishes (T7 at the Buick Invitational and T2 at the Quail Hollow Championship).

He finished last year at No. 58 on the Money List and No. 126 on the OWGR. YTD he is No. 40 on the Money List and No. 77 on the OWGR.   

Andy Reistetter is a freelance golf writer. He follows the PGA TOUR volunteering for the tournaments and working part time for NBC Sports, CBS Sports, and The Golf Channel.

He resides in Jacksonville Beach, Fla., near the PGA TOUR headquarters and home of The PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach. He enjoys pursuing his passion for the game of golf and everything associated with it.

He can be reached through his website www.MrHickoryGolf.net or by e-mailing him to [e-mail]