 Michael Sim gets top marks Australia’s leading players with their world ranking and season’s earnings in brackets
Steven Allan (434 – $US13,671) D
After two solid seasons on the PGA Tour, Allan is having a terrible year making just one cut in 12 starts. He’ll need a win or have a number of top-five finishes soon if he wants to secure his card. Needs to work on driving accuracy and putting.
Robert Allenby (39 – $US981,288) B+
Has shown good form making 11 of 14 cuts and has two top-5 finishes and five top-25s. The Victorian is a brilliant ball striker, however, putting is costing him tournament wins.
Stuart Appleby (83 – $US455,505) C+
A hardened touring professional, who has had a mediocre season by his standards. Has just one top-10 finish. Putting and hitting greens have contributed to his average form. Never write him off.
Aaron Baddeley (66 – $US782,115) B
Can be an inconsistent driver of the golf ball, but makes up for it with a good short game. If the Victorian can improve the rest of his game to match his putting he is a potential major winner.
Adam Blyth (300 – $US96,977) B
Is blossoming into a fine player on the Asian Tour. Came close to winning the Malaysian Open, but had to settle for 10th and finished seventh in the Johnnie Walker Classic. Needs to hit more greens in regulation.
Greg Chalmers (248 – $US455,504) B-
Consistency has been the left-hander’s downfall so far as he has missed the cut in half the tournaments he has contested. The West Australian has one top-10 and five top-25 finishes and needs more of those if he expects to keep his card.
Steve Conran (179 – $A215,598) B-
Having a hot and cold season making just three of 10 cuts, but two top-10s have kept him in the top-20 on the Japan Tour OOM.
Jason Day (133 – $US938,989) B+
Seems to have got over injury concerns and is gradually improving with one runner-up finish, two top-10s and five top-25 finishes. Has talent to burn and should easily retain his card.
Andrew Dodt (329 – $US65,370) B
Has taken to the pro ranks like a duck to water missing just one cut in seven starts on the Asian Tour. He is a talented player who is making the most of his opportunities.
Steve Elkington (287 – $US132,159) C-
Despite having one of the best swings on tour, the Elk’s best days are behind him. The former US PGA champion has only made five cuts from 14 starts and will struggle to finish inside the top 125 on the money list.
Marcus Fraser (195 – $A601,957) B+
Continues to improve on the European Tour and is having one of his best seasons. His best result has been a tie for eighth, but it’s his consistency that has kept the bank manager happy.
David Gleeson (228 – $US2987) C-
Is struggling to recapture the form that saw him finish fifth on the Asian Tour OOM last year. He has only made one of four cuts so far. Can do much better.
Mathew Goggin (58 – $US756,181) A-
After many years on the US PGA Tour the Tasmanian seems to have found his feet. Has been one of Australia’s best this season with two top-10s and four top-25 finishes.
Nathan Green (289 – $US364,017) C+
Has been making plenty of cuts (14/19) but is finishing at the wrong end of the field. Unless he can turn his fortunes around quickly it’ll be back to the Nationwide Tour for the man who won more than $1m in seasons 2006-’07-’08.
Richard Green (89 – $A581,848) B+
Has improved his stroke average by more than a shot on last year. With three top-10s the left-hander is well and truly an established player on the European Tour. A slight improvement in his putting will result in more wins.
Brendan Jones (65 – $A436,762) A
Has forged his career on the Japan Tour where he’s enjoying another stellar season with four top-10 finishes from seven starts. Currently fourth on the OOM.
Matthew Jones (281 – $US436,481) B
Has only contested nine events on the US PGA Tour making six cuts. He has two top-five finishes and two top-25s. The Sydneysider looks like he is developing into a good pro, but will have to put his head down if he wants to stay on the main tour.
Marc Leishman (209 – $US696,595) B+
The former top amateur has surprised everyone with his consistent form on the US PGA Tour. Makes plenty of cuts, has two top-10s and should keep his card if his form holds.
Jarrod Lyle (311 – $US262,715) C
The Victorian has the ability to book a regular place on the US PGA Tour, but needs to find the confidence to reach the next level. He needs to improve his putting if he wants to save his season and keep his card.
Peter Lonard (236 – $US181,121) C
Mr Reliable is having a mediocre season by his standards making just nine of 21 cuts. He’s much better than that. The big fella has played well a couple of times recently with one top-25 finish. Needs to pick and choose his events.
James Nitties (203 – $US784,227) B+
Qualifying-school graduate Nitties has been a revelation on the US PGA Tour this season. The Paul Azinger mentored youngster has two top-10 finishes and six top-25 places. Has slipped a bit recently and needs to get back on track if he wants to stay inside the top-125 on the money list.
Greg Norman (318 – $US34,765) B-
The Shark has only contested two events on the US PGA Tour and three on the Champions Tour this year. The 50-something veteran never threatened in those events, but is still ranked one of Australia’s top-30 pros.
Nick O’Hern (118 – $US602,719) B-
The man with a deadly short game has slipped to 52nd in approach shots from 75-100 yards and it’s costing him big time. His best has been a third place finish in the Shell Houston Open. Needs to pick up the pace if he wants to keep his card.
Geoff Ogilvy (7 – $US3,346,454) A The Victorian is easily Australia’s best performer on the world stage with two wins on the US PGA Tour earlier in the season. He has all the shots and it would come as no surprise if he won another major soon.
Peter O’Malley (330 – $US73,566) C-
Has played only three times on the US Nationwide Tour with a runner-up finish and another top-10 placing. One of Australia’s best ball-strikers, O’Malley, a long-time European Tour player, needs to repeat his European form.
Rod Pampling (76 – $US647,329) B
Is making plenty of cuts (11/15), but the tough journeyman has only cracked one top-10 finish. Five top-25 places have kept the bank balance ticking over. Probably feels he should be further up the money list at this stage of the season.
Craig Parry (341 – $A73,236) B-
Popeye has divorced himself from the US PGA Tour. He has played a handful of events on the Japan Tour without making an impression.
Cameron Percy (229 – $US191,689) B+
Is having a fine season with two runner-up finishes and several top-10s on the Nationwide Tour. Possesses a good all-round game and is well on the way to graduating to the US PGA Tour in 2010.
Terry Pilkadaris (350 – $US63,507) B-
Has got off to a reasonable start on the Asian Tour where he has enjoyed success in the past. He needs to get out of the comfort zone if he wants to reach the next level.
Aron Price (343 – $US409,968) B-
The former Nationwide Tour player is in his rookie season on the main tour and is making every post a winner. His best finish is a tie for sixth in the Mayakoba Golf Classic. He has made 12 of 18 cuts and is currently just inside the top-125 on the money list. More hard work required.
Brett Rumford (308 – $A448,810) B
European Tour player who isn’t playing as well as he would like after trying his luck in the US last year where he missed 16 of 26 cuts. He needs to improve his driving accuracy.
Adam Scott (43 – $US691,885) B-
The Queenslander has been on a rollercoaster ride this season, but he seems a lot happier in himself and it’s showing on the golf course. He has made six of 13 cuts with his best being a runner-up finish in the Sony Open. Watch for a fast finish and an improved grade at season’s end.
John Senden (97 – $US1,214,017) A-
The tall Queenslander is one of the best ball strikers on the US PGA Tour. A quiet achiever, Senden is consistent and has raced past the $1m in earnings. If he can improve his putting he will start winning.
Michael Sim (84 – $US388,117) A+
Hit the ground running on the Nationwide Tour and leads the money list. An extremely accurate driver of the ball, it comes as no surprise that he was the leading Australian at the US Open. Hard to believe he’s already in the top 100 in the world without playing on a major tour.
Scott Strange (120 – $A857,150) A
He has taken his game to another level. The West Australian captured the European Tour’s China Open in April and has developed into a consistent performer.
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