Johnson ends season this week

Myrtle Beach resident Dustin Johnson is entered in this week's PGA Tour season-ending $4.6 million Children's Miracle Network Classic at Walt Disney World, needing a win or solo second to leap into the top 30 on the money list. That's the biggest milestone Johnson has left to accomplish this year, since a top-30 would earn him an invitation to both the 2009 Masters and U.S. Open under the current qualifications for those two majors.
Johnson did not play last week and fell from 40th to 42nd on the money list with $1,789,895 earned. He trails Brian Gay at No. 30 by more than $415,000, and only the winner's purse of $828,000 or runner-up check of $496,800 gives him a chance to move into the top 30. Third-place money is $312,800. No. 28 Dudley Hart is less than $420,000 ahead of Johnson, so he'll have a good chance to get into the top 30 with a runner-up, though Stephen Ames at No. 27 is more than $473,000 ahead.
Among the 14 players ranked 28th through 41st on the money list _ Hart, Hunter Mahan, Gay, Ken Duke, J.B. Holmes, Woody Austin, Sean O'Hair, Andres Romero, Briny Baird, Jeff Quinney, Adam Scott, Matthew Goggin, Nicholas Thompson and Steve Marino _ six are skipping the Disney event. They are Mahan, O'Hair, Romero, Quinney, Scott and Goggin.
Regardless of his finish this week, Johnson's rookie season on the PGA Tour has been a dream come true. A win a few weeks ago guaranteed tour membership through the 2010 season.