Oliver Goss will do everything he can to ensure his season on the Web.Com Tour extends beyond this week’s Portland Open.
Goss ranks 72nd in earnings before the final regular season event at the Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club.
All golfers inside the top 75 after the Portland Open will earn a place in the Web.Com Tour finals, and are guaranteed full Web.Com Tour status for 2016.
Goss has earned just less than $68,000 this season, but the tour’s chief appeal is as the main gateway to the US PGA Tour, with the top 25 at season end gaining full status on the world’s richest tour.
Those who make the finals will still have a shot at an additional 25 PGA Tour cards on offer during the finals, but those qualifying via the Web.Com Tour are joined by those ranked from 126-200 on the PGA Tour to compete for these cards.
While Goss finds himself in a dogfight to remain in the top 75 and keep his season alive, a top 25 placing is still within reach if he can pull of a victory and walk away with the $144,000 on offer.
But, in all likelihood, Goss will simply aim to make the cut, something he hasn’t done since his T6 finish at the Nova Scotia Open in early July.
That top-10 finish is the lone highlight in recent times for Goss, who has made just one cut in his last 10 starts.
Goss’ earnings might be enough to ensure a finals place regardless with a handy $8,400 buffer between him and 76th place.
Four golfers need to move above Goss to eliminate him from the finals, and a top-40 placing for the 73rd to 75th ranked golfers could be enough to move above Goss if he misses the cut. From 76th place down a placing between the top 20 to the top 10 will be necessary to unseat the West Australian.
Goss is one of 13 Aussies playing for his card in Portland, but only Rod Pampling (18th) can relax with his card on the 2016 PGA Tour effectively assured.
Steve Allan (29th) is the best hope with just $12,500 separating him and 25th place. A top-15 finish should see Allan on the PGA Tour next year.
Rhein Gibson (31st) and Mathew Goggin (32nd) will have their work cut out, needing at least a top-five finish to earn automatic PGA Tour rights.
The remaining eight will need a strong finish just to earn a finals place.
Bronson La’Cassie (85th), Brett Drewitt (95th), Aron Price (99th) and James Nitties (100th) will all earn limited status on the Web.Com Tour if they can keep their top 100 ranking, but Adam Crawford (117th), Alistair Presnell (124th), Bryden Macpherson (126th) and Nick Flanagan (161st) will need to move up in the rankings significantly to avoid Q-School.