By Jon Levy - Staff Writer

March 23, 2010


So close, yet so far away. For Bubba Watson, who is still searching for a first PGA TOUR win, that statement seems like a recurring theme and, perhaps, nightmare. Especially considering, with the third place finish last week at the Transitions Championship and T2 he notched earlier in the season at the Bob Hope Classic, Watson has accrued a second or third in each of his five seasons on the PGA TOUR since 2006. Add to that an impressive 15 top-10s and 33 total top-25s on TOUR since playing The Gateway Tour just a few short years ago, and Watson is as primed to win a TOUR event as any.

But when will he finally break through? Whenever that fateful tournament is, at least he’ll have over $6.4 million in career earnings behind him and a well-publicized appearance on his favorite television program, “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” on his resume (click here to read the article Helen Ross of pgatour.com wrote about Watson’s first talk-show appearance in February).

Yes, Watson, like many others who’ve graced The Gateway Tour’s fairways at one time or another, has a personality by which the public is intrigued. He personifies the type of player The Gateway Tour houses, grooms and nurtures until the time is right to graduate to the more lucrative fairways of the PGA and Nationwide Tours. And, once there, like the many other former Gateway Tour players along for the ride with him, he’s able to show that personality on and off the golf course while he lives out his dream.

But back to the golf and when he’ll win? Our money’s on saying it’s probably not far off now for the player stands 18th in the FedEx Cup points list, with already almost $800,000 to his credit this year.

Likewise, former players J.B. Holmes (15th), Brandt Snedeker (23rd), Sean O’Hair (37th), Tom Gillis (41st) and Steve Marino (45th) -- who all share spots with Watson in the top-50 on the FedEx Cup points list -- look as primed as ever to soon take a spot in the winner’s circle.

Stay tuned as they give it a shot again this week at the Bay Hill Classic in Orlando, and also keep an eye out for the large Gateway Tour Alumni contingent on the Nationwide Tour who will tee it up in the States for the first time this year at the Chitimacha Louisana Open. Heading into the event, a respectable eleven players occupy spots in The 25.

Former Gateway Tour and Gateway Collegiate Tour player, Bobby Gates, leads the Nationwide Tour money list after his win in New Zealand, while former players Aaron Watkins (6th), Brian Smock (9th), Martin Piller (10th), Kevin Chappell (11th), Andrew Buckle (12th), Tommy Gainey (13th), James Hahn (17th), William McGirt (18th), Mark Anderson (21st) and Fabian Gomez (24th) trail with coveted spots, of which, come year’s end, will earn a 2011 PGA TOUR card.

Keep it up, guys…


Click here for full list of The 25 on the Nationwide Tour and here for full field results of the Transitions Championship, from pgatour.com…