Date: October 05, 2015
Author: Mark Hayes

Gibson lands PGA card

Golf journeyman Rhein Gibson has taken the largest step in his extraordinary rise through the ranks.

Gibson, born in Bendigo, raised in Lismore (NSW) and now based in Oklahoma, peeled off a second consecutive 65 today to launch into the top four at the Web.Com Tour Championship in Florida.

But more importantly, the 29-year-old did more than enough to secure his US PGA Tour card for season 2015/16.

Gibson, arguably best known for his world record score of 55 in club competition near Oklahoma City in 2012, entered the week 18th on the finals money list, needing to make the cut to be guaranteed a ticket to the big dance.

But his move into the top 10 on the money list – after rounds of 63-76-65-65 – improved his exemption category and should allow him more starts when the Tour begins in a fortnight.

Gibson scythed through the field today, with his only bogey at the last, when the job at hand was well fulfilled and tournament winner Emiliano Grillo effectively out of reach.

But there was bad news for former Australian Open champ Stephen Allan who, after beginning the week ranked No.23, was left to ponder what might have been after missing the cut and falling outside the top 25 who earned cards.

The Victorian fired a one-over-par 73 in his opening round, but a second-round 78 consigned him to another season on the secondary Tour.

Rod Pampling was next best Aussie behind Gibson at the TPC Sawgrass' Dye Valley course finishing T24, but the Queenslander had already wrapped up his card by finishing top 25 on the regular season money list.

Aaron Baddeley saved his best of the week for last, but a final-round 65 was too little too late. The three-time PGA Tour winner will return to the secondary tour full time for the second time in his 13-year American career having kept his card every year since 2002.

Robert Allenby and Cameron Percy also made the cut but missed out on the top 25.

Allenby must now use a career money list exemption to tee up on the PGA Tour, while Percy faces another season on the Web.com Tour.

Golf Australia rookie squad member Oliver Goss, Tasmanian Mathew Goggin and Perth’s Greg Chalmers all missed this week's cut meaning all will be playing the Web.com Tour again next season.