[Hennybogan]

Wow, I'm learning here too. Intuitively it seems less than fair if a veteran tour player can get unlimited exemptions when young ambitious talented (and responsible) players have to wait and wait and basically are limited to grinding out on the Nationwide tour or make sure they can keep it together for six rounds in November.

The non-members who get exeptions are players with great amateur careers. Colt Knost was the latest. There are thousands of young, talented, and ambitious players. Very few will crack into the tour ranks, and fewer will stay. The veteran tour members can claim to fill the stands or have supported the tournament in the past. Pro-am guys would rather play with a two time US Open champ than a kid with potential.

Part of the system is designed to protect the players already on the Tour. The advent of the big money small field tourneys may make it more difficult for the rank and file member to retain membership.

Whenever a player feels like a rule is unfair he should ask himself, "Would this problem go away if I played better?" Very often, the answer is to play better. I'm not a big fan of the new NASCAR playoff system. But they don't ask me for advice.