FanHouse ChezReavie

This week's Wyndham Championship is the last tournament of the year for players to earn a little more cash, and jump a few more spots in the FedEx Cup point standings, hoping to make their way into the playoffs that kick off next week. Basically, it is the best shot for people that aren't having their best year to do a little more to make sure they aren't left out when the Barclays begins and only the top-125 on the FedEx Cup point list are invited.

On a weather-shortened Thursday at Sedgefield Country Club, a few players did just that. Chez Reavie, who won the Canadian Open last season but has struggled mightily in '09, shot a 6-under 64, his best round of the year, to tie Brandt Snedeker and Ryan Moore atop of the leaderboard. All three leaders have had lackluster years, but Reavie is the one that needs the biggest boost.

Golf season starts tomorrow, which means it is time to actually start thinking of the best game with dimples. While the giants take a nap, others will play at the Mercedes Championship, and golf will be around the rest of the year. FanHouse spent a couple of minutes thinking what is to come in 2009. Here is what transpired.

It all starts tomorrow, people. The 2009 PGA season gets underway at the Mercedes Championship. Except that four of last year's champs -- who also happen to be the four best players in the world -- won't be there. Tiger, Sergio, Phil and Paddy are skipping out on the free trip to Hawaii, although I suspect the other 33 players in the field aren't complaining.

Last season, Anthony Kim and, to a lesser extent (because we've known about him for a while ... and because Brinson has some worries), Camilo Villegas emerged as "the latest young golfer who will supposedly challenge Tiger Woods." And to be fair, both had a lot success. While they continue the seemingly impossible task of supplanting Woods atop the rankings, there are other young players hoping to do the same. The difference: we haven't heard much about them. Until now, anyway. Here's a look at five guys to watch as '09 unfolds.

Unlike most sports, being a professional golfer just takes a check of a box.

Once you mark "professional" you're set to make money, even if you never make any. Today, at the Canadian Open, an Arizona State alumni that most people outside of the golf dweeb network had never heard of won his first PGA Tour event and made himself more than a professional golfer.

Chez Reavie, al 5'9" of him, is a winner on the big boys tour.

"Oh, man. I'm just so excited," Reavie said. "I don't think a lot of people understand when you're growing up and you're practicing and you're working so hard, this is, obviously, your goal. But there are no guarantees."

The "no guarantees" clause comes from hundreds of golfers to earn their PGA Tour card only to miss cut after cut and find themselves teaching kids how to hook a seven-iron or selling mechandise in the local Golfsmith. Reavie, a Nationwide Tour graduate from 2007, landed a two year exemption on the PGA Tour today and emerged as another youthful talent that could make waves in a tournament that relies on ballstriking.

"It was crucial to hit fairways so you could lift and clean your ball and place it in a good lie, especially when you don't hit it as far as some of the other guys do," Reavie said. "So, it really played into my hands.

"It was like the U.S. Open out there. The rough was long and the greens were tough. I guess that's a good, style of golf for me, putting a premium on hitting fairways."