Love needs solid Byron Nelson
Another major deadline looms, and Davis Love III again is on the bubble. This is the final week for players to avoid 36-hole qualifying for the U.S. Open and the British Open.
Love, who missed the Masters by just over four-hundredths of a point in the world ranking, goes into the Byron Nelson Championship at No. 54 in the world and most likely will need to finish no worse than 14th to get into the top 50.
The top 50 in the world and the top 10 on the PGA Tour money list after this week are exempt from U.S. Open qualify.
David Toms, who also missed out on the Masters, is at No. 47 and probably will need to finish in the top 50 at the Nelson to stay there.
Dustin Johnson is No. 48 but already eligible with two PGA Tour victories since June; Aaron Baddeley is No. 49 and not playing this week; while Thongchai Jaidee (No. 50), Graeme McDowell (No. 51) and Prayad Marksaeng (No. 53) are playing the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, which offers more points than Dallas.
The top 10 on the money list going into the Nelson who are not already exempt for the U.S. Open -- Sean O'Hair, Nick Watney and Paul Casey -- will get in through the world ranking.
Kevin Na (No. 12) is $60,123 behind 10th place on the money list, and would need to finish at least 23rd in Dallas.
Brian Gay is on both bubbles. He is No. 54 in the world and probably would need to finish ninth or higher to earn enough ranking points; and he is No. 14 on the money list, needing to finish at least 24th to have a chance.
The British Open is all about top 50 in the world. It also has mini-money lists that will not be decided until July.
Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press
