Friday, Oct. 11, 2002 | 10:05 a.m.
In a world where excuses are commonplace, Edward Fryatt calls his play on the PGA Tour this year inexcusable.
Fryatt, who attended Chaparral High School and UNLV and who remains a Las Vegas resident, is in danger of losing his most valued professional possession: his tour card.
Only by finishing among the top 125 money winners does a player retain full playing privileges for the following year, and Fryatt -- with four tournaments, including the ongoing Invensys Classic at Las Vegas, still to play themselves out -- is a distant No. 170 on the money list.
He's won $196,823 but if he doesn't add at least another $300,000 to that total in the next month he'll be forced to return to Qualifying School in an effort to regain his card for 2003.
"I've played exactly as well as the amount of money I've made would indicate," he said Thursday after posting a second-round 67 at the TPC at Summerlin. Through two rounds of the five-day tournament, he's nine under par.
"I haven't done well this year," Fryatt said with almost alarming honesty. "I can't put my finger on it, but I've been mediocre at everything. And, out here, you just can't survive with that."
Fryatt, 31, is a decent No. 62 in driving but a less than desirable No. 163 in greens in regulation and a faulty No. 173 in scoring average. Not much has gone well for him this season and he came into the Las Vegas tournament having missed the cut last week in Virginia.
"It's been such a struggle all year," he said. "When you're struggling like I am, you start searching for any explanation. Is it in your head? Your swing? You say to yourself, 'Next week will be better,' but when it's not it gets very frustrating.
"I'm down in the depths and it's going to take awhile to get out."
Confidence, or lack of confidence, comes into play.
"I've stood over shots wondering what was going to happen, instead of making it happen," he said. "It's the same old stuff."
This is a problem Fryatt hadn't previously experienced, or at least in some time. The past two years he has finished 77th and 90th on the money list and had gained a reputation as not only a solid player but, perhaps, one with a hint of stardom to him.
"Playing pro golf is the greatest life in the world -- when you're going good," said Fryatt's swing coach, Jimmy Bullard. "But right now Ed's under a lot of pressure.
"Unless something changes, my job will be to get him mentally and physically ready for Q School."
The dread that accompanies a trip to Q School is something Fryatt is already coming to grips with.
"There's a chance I'll have to go back to Q School, but, card or no card, I can't let that bother me now," Fryatt said. "I can't look at this tournament or any of the others that remain and say 'I've got to finish in the top 10.' That type of attitude wouldn't do me any good, especially if you not only don't finish in the top 10 but don't make the cut.
"So I'm aware of my situation but I'm trying not to concern myself with it just yet."
With a small group of family and friends -- including wife Michelle and another ex-Rebel, Eric Schroeder -- in his TPC gallery, Fryatt turned in a respectable round that was capped by a birdie at his closing hole. Throughout the day Fryatt spoke easily with his amateur partners, including longtime Founders Club member Tom Hartley, which led to Michelle remarking that she was glad to see her husband relaxed and at ease.
"I'm just trying to enjoy myself this week," Fryatt said. "I've taken the attitude that I'm going to have fun.
"Besides, I'm thankful for everything that I have, especially my beautiful wife and child (1-year-old Faith)."
To some extent, he may simply be looking to get this year over.
"Lots of guys have fallen off and come back, and that probably makes success even sweeter," he said. "Maybe I can do the same. Maybe I can at least get back to what I used to be able to do, which is hit fairways, hit a lot of greens and make some putts.
"Then again, maybe I'll do something great yet this year. Maybe a month from now we'll be able to look back on this article that you're going to write and have a laugh."
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