The Reshuffle List: Fallout From the First Reshuffle

With the conclusion of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship last week, the first reshuffle of the shortened 2013 PGA Tour season has arrived. For some players it's another step toward stardom while for others an already tough task just became that much more difficult because of poor early play.

Here's a look at the Reshuffle List golfers who played well, and those who did not play well, in the first eight events of the PGA Tour season:

TOP 5:

1. James Hahn - $704,788 (most likely clinched his 2013-14 PGA Tour card)
2. David Lingmerth - $526,008
3. Brian Stuard - $389,748
4. Billy Horschel - $345,492
5. Scott Langley - $338,515

BOTTOM 5 (non-medical):

46. Andrew Svoboda - $0
47. Bobby Gates - $0
48. Donald Constable - $0
50. David Berganio, Jr. - $0
51. Joe Affrunti - $0

BIGGEST GAINERS

Brian Stuard, +32 spots - Stuard topping this list comes as no surprise, as his strong start that included a T5 at the Sony Open propelled him up the Reshuffle List. But what's most impressive about Stuard is how he's getting it done statistically. He's ninth in the most respected putting statistic out there, strokes gained - putting. He's also 10th in the all-around ranking, which takes into consideration the most important statistics and reflects a player's consistency. Stuard's consistency is something fantasy players should note.

Nicholas Thompson, +32 - As we talked about earlier this month, Thompson started well this season and while a missed cut at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am prevented him from earning any more valuable FedEx Cup points toward his 2013-14 card, the strong start will afford him many more chances to do so. He began the year 38th, so this jump puts him in prime position to take a run at a PGA Tour win.

Patrick Reed, +32 - Reed's rise in the Reshuffle List is a good example of how one strong week can change everything. Reed's 2013 includes three missed cuts in five events, which on the surface sounds awful. But his two other finishes are a T39 at Torrey Pines and a T7 at Pebble Beach. Those finishes totaled $234,635, and on a list whose movement is all based on money, that equals more playing opportunities during the Florida swing.

Peter Tomasulo, +28 - Tomasulo is an interesting case because he started the 2013 PGA Tour season third to last on the Reshuffle List in 49th place. So while he's now sitting 21st to begin the second reshuffle period, it's almost as if his next eight weeks need to be as good, if not better, than the first eight to continue to give himself more playing opportunities.

Chez Reavie, +27 – Another byproduct of being at the bottom of the list: it doesn't take much to jump up the board. Reavie will start the second Reshuffle period in 19th with only two finishes in the money – a T21 at the Farmers Insurance Open and a T62 at Pebble. It's a fairly non-descript start for Reavie, who needs to start getting top-10s and more top-25s if he wants to ensure his place for 2013-14.

BIGGEST LOSERS

Steve LeBrun, -37 – LeBrun's poor play – with additional missed cuts at Pebble Beach and the Northern Trust Open since our last writing – had him go from fourth to 41st after the first Reshuffle. What's contributing to his problems? He's ranked 47th or lower in all of the PGA Tour's "Performance Stats" except one – total driving – and his 72.494 scoring average is a staggering 153rd, placing him toward the bottom of the 184 who qualify for the statistic. With limited playing opportunities, LeBrun needs to right the ship ASAP.

Jeff Gove, Paul Haley II, -23 – Gove and Haley made our last column because they were the highest ranked players on the list at the beginning of the year – 19th and 20th, respectively – who hadn't made any money thus far in 2013. They come out of the reshuffle in the same plight, with $0 made. They are now 42nd and 43rd, yearning for any playing opportunities available. Fantasy owners should avoid starting these two in the meantime.

D.H. Lee, -23 – Lee's dramatic drop is surprising, especially considering he began the season in pole position. But with only $35,060 made in five starts with no finish better than a T49 at the Sony Open, one quickly sees why Lee must make quick adjustments to try to get his game back on track.

Luke List, -23 – List has only made the weekend twice in five starts, which obviously doesn't increase your chances of winning a PGA Tour event or helping increase your Reshuffle position. Zero finishes better than T65 doesn't help either. Since we last touched on List, his rankings in what may be the two most telling statistics for the long hitter this season – driving accuracy and greens in regulation – have gotten worse, as he's now 173rd and 161st, respectively. Those two categories must improve immediately, and until they do fantasy owners should stay away from List.

GOLFERS IN DANGERS

Ben Kohles – Kohles dropped 13 spots in the first Reshuffle from 12th to 25th. He's made two cuts so far this year – a T41 at the Sony Open and a T79 at the Humana Challenge, but subsequently missed his last two at Torrey Pines and Pebble Beach. Kohles will probably get a couple playing opportunities during this next Reshuffle period, and he'll need to play well to give himself more chances during the late spring-early summer run on the PGA Tour.

Andres Gonzales, Aaron Watkins, Andrew Svoboda, Bobby Gates, Donald Constable, David Berganio, Jr. and Joe Affrunti – These players made the list because, in addition to Gove and Haley, they have made $0 so far in 2013. All is not lost, however, as they could have upcoming playing opportunities in Tampa, Puerto Rico and possibly San Antonio. Those events may have weak enough fields where players this far down the Reshuffle List could get in. But they must take advantage of all opportunities afforded because additional opportunities will be few and far between if they don't.

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