Steve

Flesch

The lefty’s run in the Playoffs ended abruptly due to a sinus headache just 27 holes into The Barclays. He’s currently 122nd in earnings, so he’ll start the four-event Fall Series on the better side of the bubble to earn a PGA TOUR card in 2012, but he hasn’t cracked a top 50 in his last six starts of the Timberlake, a stretch that includes four missed cuts.

We last saw the lefty at The Barclays where he called it quits after 27 holes due to a sinus headache. His play today was anything but as he landed 15 greens at TPC Summerlin and needed only 27 putts. Six of his eight birdie conversions measured under seven feet. The longest two disappeared from 12'3" and 13'4" at the 15th and first holes, respectively. Flesch starts the Fall Series ranked 122nd on the money list, just inside the bubble of the top 125 that will earn fully-exempt status in 2012.

Flesch was the ninth alternate at the start of the week. He gained entry when Harrison Frazar withdrew. The lefty is 0-for-4 on conditional status this year, but he may be motivated more than usual as he’s the all-time earnings leader at this week’s event. With $1.575 million thanks to a win (2003) and two seconds, all at English Turn, Flesch leads Charles Howell III by just $20K. All but one -- Carlos Franco, ninth -- on the tournament’s career money list are scheduled to compete this week.

Flesch has spent most of 2012 splitting time on the course with hours in the Golf Channel studio, as he can be seen frequently providing insight on television. He had a nice trip to San Antonio last year, finishing T15. With a solid ball-striking week, he could grab his first cut of the season.

The lefty sat T132 at 6-over-par 72-75-72-72-75=366 after Sunday’s fifth round. He was 13 strokes off the pace of the top 25 that will graduate after today’s finale. Because Flesch finished 134th on the money list this year, he’ll have conditional status in 2012. Given his position in the pecking order and that he’s a multiple winner on the circuit, look for him to crank out 20-25 starts, good for mild sleeper status in fantasy games.

Flesch withdrew from the tournament after shooting 72 in the first round.

On July 23, Flesch alerted his followers on Twitter that going to have surgery to reattach his bicep to the labrum in his shoulder. Today, he wrote: “Thanks everyone for the well wishes on my shoulder surgery. All went great and even the Reds won! Great day.” The lefty will probably qualify for a Non-exempt Medical Extension in 2013, but his early fantasy value will be limited to Pebble Beach and the first two opposite events during the first three months of the year.

Flesch started the week as the fourth alternate. He gained entry thanks to two withdrawals this morning. The lefty is 0-for-9 with zero rounds in the 60s. He finished T24 at last year’s Travelers, closing out his week with a bogey-free 63. However, until he makes a cut, he shouldn’t be on your radar.

The lefty wrote: “Thanks everyone for the support this year, unfortunately I’m going to have shoulder surgery again so I’m finished till 2013. Getting old!” He played this season on conditional status and went 0-for-12. He might qualify for a Non-exempt Medical Extension in 2013. UPDATE: Flesch added details a couple of hours later, writing: “Got to reattach my bicep to my labrum. Will have surgery in a couple weeks.”