Golf: New Zealanders languish on US circuits

A barren year on the Nationwide Tour in the United States means tough times ahead for a handful of New Zealand golfers.

The second tier tour draws to a close next month without a New Zealander in sight of a top-20 season placing required to promote them on to the PGA Tour for 2007.

Two events remain on the schedule but the four New Zealand Nationwide regulars can already start concentrating on seeking their cards for the main tour via qualifying school.

The six-round qualifying, their only means of gaining PGA Tour playing rights for 2007, starts in California on November 29.

That means Michael Long, Grant Waite, Tim Wilkinson and Steve Alker can kiss goodbye to any thoughts of returning home for the New Zealand Open, which starts one day later at Gulf Harbour north of Auckland.

That applies, also, to PGA Tour player Phil Tataurangi, who needs to go back to school to retain his playing privileges for next year.

New Zealanders have been inconspicuous on the two US tours this year.

Long has performed best of the quartet on the Nationwide Tour, earning US$103,380 ($156,588) to sit 55th on the moneylist, almost US$100,000 outside the top 20.

Left-hander Wilkinson is 73rd with tournament income of US$73,554, Waite is one place back with US$72,839 while Alker is 89th with $59,070.

New Zealand's impact on the full PGA Tour this season also had all the impact of a pin prick.

Waite has done best as he has split his time on both circuits.

He continues to get the odd PGA Tour start thanks to special invitations, courtesy of his win in the 1993 Kemper Open.

He made eight appearances on the big stage in 2006, earning US$96,950 to sit 217th on the moneylist.

Tataurangi, playing this season on a medical exemption after several years of injuries, has had 20 outings for a return of US$55,792 to be 230th.

Perks has been even worse, making just one cut in 18 appearances, for income of US$11,880 to be 254th in the standings.

His place on tour is secure for 2007 only because it marks the final year of his five-year exemption, earned in 2002 when he won the Players Championship.

- NZPA