Jeff Overton Braves the Pain to Retain His PGA Tour Card

Jeff Overton currently sits in the much sought after 125th spot on the PGA Tour’s money list heading into this week’s Children's Miracle Network Classic, which began today in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. 

The pressure will undoubtedly be almost unbearable as Overton plays to secure his PGA Tour playing privileges for the 2008 season and avoid a degrading trip back to Q-School. 

But this week, Jeff Overton is not only dealing with the enormous pressure of trying to remain within the top 125 on the PGA Tour’s money list, he is also playing in a great deal of pain, which is a result of an emergency appendectomy he underwent less than three weeks ago. 

Overton was forced to miss the Fry’s.com Open two weeks ago but returned for last week’s Ginn sur Mer Classic, where he somehow managed to finish 18th and move into the 125th spot on the money list, just $37,737 ahead of Martin Laird. 

To ease the pain during the final round of the Ginn sur Mer Classic, Overton had to pop a Percocet, which is on the list of the PGA Tour’s banned substances. 

As we all know, random drug testing has recently been implemented on the PGA Tour so to avoid the possibility of a fine or suspension, Overton received special permission by the PGA Tour to take the pain killers to ease the suffering from his appendectomy.

If the doctors had their way, Overton would have been in bed last week, this week, and probably for at least another week. 

But the doctors are not the ones facing the threat of a return to Q-School, which could very easily result in Overton having to play on the Nationwide Tour next year and sustaining a massive pay cut.

So, once again, with Percocet in pocket, Overton trudged his way around the course, amazingly shooting a five-under par round of 67, which has landed him in a tie for 16th after 18 holes.

If you ever had any doubts as to just how important the PGA Tour’s fall series is to so many players, you need look no further than Jeff Overton, playing only weeks after a fairly significant surgery to ensure that retains his tour card for the 2009 season.

Guys like Woods, Mickelson and Singh have enough money to support their great-, great-grandchildren.  They play for the thrill of winning, the love of competition and the pursuit of records.

Guys like Jeff Overton are playing simply to remain on the PGA Tour where they are able to earn enough money to provide a good lifestyle for their family while also having the opportunity each and every week of significantly improving their lifestyle with a win which would award them $1 million or more.

The Nationwide Tour money leader has earned $415,000 this season.  Jeff Overton has earned more than $840,000 on the PGA Tour this year. 

A return to Q-School puts a player in a dicey situation where a couple of bad rounds could literally determine the difference between more than $400,000, not to mention the opportunity available on the PGA Tour to literally change your life with a win that would put $1 million in your bank account for four days of work.

If that isn't motivation enough to play through just about any physical ailment, then I don’t know what is. 

Jeff Overton braving the pain shows just how significant and desperate of a situation many players are in this week.