It’s Close, but Martin Gets PGA Card

Casey Martin, needing to play well enough in the final Nike event of the season to place in the top 15 of the money list and earn his PGA card, barely made it.

A 37th-place finish Sunday dropped him from 12th in the money standings to 14th--still good enough for his card.

Martin’s achievement overshadowed the victory of Bob Heintz, who beat Marco Dawson in a one-hole playoff to win the Nike Tour Championship, as well as the 14 other golfers who also earned their tour cards.

Martin shot a six-over-par 78 in the final round at Highland Oaks.

“If I play like I did here, I won’t be a very good PGA player,” Martin joked after his round.

Born with a rare circulatory disorder in his right leg, walking 18 holes is too painful for Martin. He needs to ride in a cart, which is prohibited on the PGA Tour, so Martin sued for the right to use it.

He won his case, but the tour appealed. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court could rule any day on the appeal.