Nathan

Green

Green hasn’t had a top 20 on the PGA TOUR in 12 months. His two-year exemption for winning the Canadian Open in 2009 dries up at the conclusion of the Fall Series, which he entered ranked 178th on the money list. Flat out, his back is against the wall. He won today’s battle with 14 greens and 4-for-4 scrambling. He also took only 25 putts and buried seven birdies, five of which measured over 10 feet. This included conversions of 15'1", 21'8" and 25'2" at the first, eighth and 10th holes, respectively.

The one-time PGA TOUR winner coughed up two bogeys in his final five holes but finished just inside the cut line. Andy Bare was the medalist at 14-under 274, one better than Brenden Pappas and Paul Haley. Other notables of the 24 that advanced from this site include Colt Knost (278), Tag Ridings (280), Martin Piller (280), Chris Tidland (280), Carlos Franco (281) and Scott Dunlap (281). Among those that failed to survive were Paul Stankowski (283), Alex Prugh (284), Scott Gordon (284), Chris Baryla (285), Todd Hamilson (286), Tom Scherrer (286), Camilo Villegas’ former caddie Brett Waldman (286), Matt Weibring (289), Scott Gutschewski (291), Andrew Buckle (291), Peter Uihlein (291), Jack Newman (291) and Jerod Turner (292). The final three sites of the second stage will conclude on Saturday, Nov. 19.

Entering the week ranked 161st in FedExCup points, it doesn’t come as a surprise that today’s score is Green’s lowest aggregate in 35 rounds all year. He hit 13 greens in regulation and buried six birdies today, five of which on his first nine holes -- the back side at TPC River Highlands. He opened with a seven-yard hole-out from in front of the green at the 10th. His longest conventional birdie rolled in from 15'11" at the No. 14. The Aussie has gone 62 consecutive starts on the PGA TOUR without a top 10.

This time he will try and tackle Hamilton Golf & Country Club. In his 2010 defense, he posted a T37 and followed that up with a 76th in 2011. This season, he has cashed in nine (of 15) events with three top 25s.

The Aussie’s made seven (of 11) cuts, but only managed to bring home one top 25. His T24 at the Valero Texas Open added up to an even-par 288. Hanging around even isn’t going to move anyone forward at the TPC River Highlands, where the winning score will sometimes break 20-under. He’s 15th in GIR and 77th in Strokes Gained-Putting, so there’s reason to believe he could find the hot hand.

The short story of his second tour around TPC River Highlands is that he carded only five pars. After opening bogey-bogey, Green would climb all the way back to 4-under through 15 holes before limping in with three straight bogeys. Four of his seven birdies found the cup from 15 feet or further, including a 10-yard hole-out from behind the green at the par-3 eighth hole. He also rolled in a 16-footer for par at the fourth.

The 2009 champion was bogey-free in a round that featured five birdies. Crooked off the tee, he found just six (of 14) fairways but managed to land 13 GIR. He will begin his final trip around Hamilton Golf & Country Club at 8-under 202.

He circled five birdies and squared three bogeys in his navigation of Hamilton Golf & Country Club, while gaining over three strokes on the field with the flat stick. He will try and continue his fine play at the upcoming Reno-Tahoe Open.

The TOUR veteran and 2011 Q School grad has cashed in 13 of 20 events, but fails to finish tournaments of with a lone top 10 and just three top 25s. He ranks 41st in scoring average before the cut, 54th in the third round, but drops all the way to 143rd on payday. He has missed the cut in each of his two trips to the Seaside Course at Sea Island golf Club, breaking 70 just once in four rounds.

This is just Green’s fourth start of 2013, with his only made cut a T31 at the Valero Texas Open. Each of his three birdies fell from outside 20 feet, so the flat stick got the job done. His lone bogey at the par-4 14th was a result of an approach into a greenside bunker and a poor effort on his third shot. Sunday’s finale is a big deal. With only past champion status to rely on, a top 10 would get him into the next full-field event.