The 2013 edition of the Web.com is underway, with a full field kicking it off today in the Panama Claro Championship, as part of the Tour's Central America swing. This marks the first full year of the Web.com sponsorship, after Nationwide Insurance's ten-year run came to an end last summer.
But more importantly, it marks the first season of the Tour's new structural changes that will affect how players qualify for the PGA Tour. At the end of the regular season, the top 75 players on the Web.com money list will compete alongside No. 126-200 on this year's PGA Tour money list in a playoff series where the top 25 performers achieve PGA Tour status for next season. The top 25 on the money list as the end of the regular season will be assured PGA Tour status, keeping in line with past structure, but positioning for tournament fields will be determined in the playoffs.
So, the PGA Tour wants to increase the importance of the Web.com Tour. Q-School is no longer a possible path to the big leagues, and all aspiring PGA Tour pros are now forced to go through the Triple-A circuit. In time, we will see if this draws heightened interest of Web.com events and greater crowds. For now, we don't have much of an idea.
In Panama, Mark Anderson has jumped out of the gate, posting a morning 6-under 64 that included six birdies in his first seven holes. Rookie Andrew Loupe, who has three top-25 finishes in six prior Web.com starts, matched Anderson at 64.
Peter Tomasulo and James Nitties are a shot back after morning 65s. Tomasulo's effort was bogey-free.
Long way to go, though. Today, this week - and this season.
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