The Turning Stone Resort Championship: How The Other Half Lives

For guys like Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Padraig Harrington, winning major championships is what it’s all about.

Guys like Woods, Mickelson and Harrington already have more money in their bank accounts than they could spend in four lifetimes. It’s the quest for major championship glory that gets them out of bed in the morning and keeps them motivated.

But for guys like Jeff Quinney, Robert Garrigus and Will MacKenzie, the Turning Stone Resort Championship along with the four other fall series events, is about as big as it gets.

Over the next six weeks, these men aren’t playing for glory, fame or new endorsement deals – they’re playing for their livelihoods.

Earn enough money over the next six weeks to finish within the top-125 on the tour’s money list, and you have a big-time, high-paying job secured for next year on the PGA Tour.

Finish outside the top-125, and you better start thinking about how you’re going to support your family, if you don’t happen to get hot for six days during the finals of Q-School.  

The PGA Tour’s fall season begins this week in Verona New York where it’s cold, cold, cold.

Temperatures are expected to get as low as 39 degrees overnight and don’t be surprised to see players wearing wool hats and ski coats during early morning rounds.

If you’ve ever played a round of golf in freezing cold temperatures, you’ll know that the word ‘uncomfortable’ doesn’t nearly do justice in describing that horrific feeling in your hands.   

But, these guys would play 18 holes in pink bikinis if it meant keeping their tour cards for next season.

Here are five players to watch this week at Turning Stone.

Michael Sim

The Turning Stone Resort Championship will mark Michael Sim's first event this year as a fully exempt member of the PGA Tour.

Sim's three wins this season on the Nationwide Tour has qualified him for an immediate advancement to the PGA Tour.

The Australian has been so impressive on the Nationwide Tour, that he’s currently ranked 64th in the World Golf rankings, which is better than half of the PGA Tour pros in the field this week.

There will certainly be a lot of interest in how Michael Sim fares this week in Verona, New York.

Jason Day

With more than $1.25 million in earnings this year, Jason Day's 2010 PGA Tour card has already been printed.

So, what motive does he have to play four rounds of golf in frigid temperatures at the Turning Stone Resort Championship?

The reasoning behind his trip to rural New York this week may be good, old-fashion vengeance.

Day was in contention after 54-holes at last year’s Turning Stone Resort Championship, before blowing up on Sunday and carding a 75 which left him five strokes off the lead.  

A halfway decent round on Sunday, and Day would have been the one celebrating his first PGA Tour victory in Verona, New York instead of Dustin Johnson.   

Perhaps Day will have better luck this year.

Robert Allenby

Like Jason Day, Robert Allenby has little motive for attending the Turning Stone Resort Championship this week other than that he seems to enjoy the golf course.

Allenby finished second at Turning Stone last year and 25th the year before.

And when you haven’t won a PGA Tour event in eight years, you’d travel to the moon to play at a course that suits your eye.

Robert Garrigus

Unlike Day and Allenby, Robert Garrigus needs to attend the Turning Stone Resort Championship this week.

Garrigus is currently 124th on the tour’s money list and considering that he tied for 3rd at Turning Stone last year, this may be an excellent opportunity for Garrigus to secure his 2010 tour card.

Garrigus leads the PGA Tour in driving distance with an average of 312 yards off the tee, which is an asset that will be invaluable this week while playing in frigid temperatures where the ball tends not to fly as far.

Garrigus’ motivation for playing well this week?

It’s simple – life on the PGA Tour isn’t half bad and he’d like to keep his job.

Adam Scott

No, that’s not a typo, Adam Scott is actually attending the Turning Stone Resort Championship this year.

In case you have been living in a cave for the past year, Adam Scott has made the cut in just four out of his last 14 PGA Tour starts, has dropped 56 spots in the World Golf rankings, and was chosen by Greg Norman as a captain’s pick for next week’ Presidents Cup.

Hmm, what part of that last sentence doesn’t fit?

Scott will be attending this week’s Turning Stone Resort Championship in a desperate attempt to build some kind of momentum before heading to San Francisco for the Presidents Cup.

You can be assured that Greg Norman will be keeping a close eye on this week’s Turning Stone Resort Championship.  After all, his success or failure as President’s Cup captain will likely to rest on Adam Scott’s putter.