Golf: Perks determined to claim his full US tour card back

New Zealander Craig Perks failed to make enough money to retain his full United States PGA tour card, but he believes he has accumulated a wealth of experience to stand him in good stead on the world's toughest golf campaign next year.

The Palmerston North right-hander, in his rookie year among the sport's elite, finished 11 places outside the top 125 and a guaranteed place on the 2001 tour.

But Perks will be entitled, as a top-150 player, to at least a partial exemption and the prospect of at least 20 tournament starts in 2001.

He finished in a tie for 20th when the last tournament on the calendar, the Southern Farm Classic, ended on Monday.

His $US21,535 ($55,000) share of the pot lifted his earnings to $US297,912, not enough to make the cut, but a welcome boost to his coffers all the same.

With his game solidifying after a sub-par start to the year, Perks, though exhausted, wished the tour had another month to run.

"I usually play well at the end of the year. It's sad it's come to an end, but I'm beat to death," said Perks, relishing the chance of a fortnight off.

He then gets ready to return to the cut-throat tour qualifying school next month.

Perks emerged from qualifying last year to become the only New Zealander with a full tour card and has an exemption through to the finals.

"All I can do is better my ranking. If I can finish higher I'll get more starts, but as it stands I'll be in 20 to 25 events.

Overall, he said, it was hard to be disappointed with his first year on the tour.

"It bodes well for next year - by playing the events you get to know the courses and the surroundings, so I'll be better prepared next time.

"I learned a lot about pacing myself. I'm a better player as of November 6 than I was on January 1 after playing on the best courses of the world against the best players."

Perks had expected his performance in the New Zealand Open at Paraparaumu in January, where he lost in a playoff to Michael Campbell, would provide the springboard for a successful foray on the PGA tour.

Not so.

Perks made only one of the first eight cuts of the year and admitted his confidence was shot.

"It was a real struggle. It was frustrating watching the guys play on television, making money, and when I finally got a chance to play I couldn't play well.

"My confidence got quite low, but I've worked hard all my career and I just had to remain patient.

"Once I got some starts I improved."

His season's highlight was a share of fourth in the Canadian Open in September.

Close friend and fellow Palmerston North golfer Grant Waite was second in that tournament, a shot behind world No 1 Tiger Woods.

Waite was the best-performed Kiwi on the tour, earning $US1,142,789 to finish 37th and earn a spot in the US Masters.

Meanwhile, Perks said he was keen to return to New Zealand for the Open at the Grange in January, but his involvement depended on improving his ranking at the qualification school or the 2001 tour schedule.

- NZPA