While he lined up a putt on the practice green at Southpointe Golf Club, Dicky Pride summarized in one word what other players had elaborated on all morning.

"No."

As in, 'No, the Nationwide Tour money list standings do not affect how I play."

The Mylan Classic, which begins today, marks the beginning of the final nine events of the Nationwide Tour's 28-tournament schedule. The top 25 money leaders at the end of the season automatically earn PGA Tour cards for the following season.

Those right on the cusp, however, said they play the same way every tournament regardless of their standings.

"I try to do anything I have to do to win," said Pride, from Tuscaloosa, Ala., currently 28th on the money list. "I don't know anybody in this field that's playing this tournament that's not. We all pretty much have the same mindset."

The PGA Tour owns and operates the Nationwide Tour, which started in 1990. The Nationwide Tour has sent 308 players to the PGA Tour, including John Daly, Tom Lehman and Jim Furyk, and 13 former Nationwide Tour players have won major tournaments.

About $8,000 separates the nine players ranked from 24th to 32nd. With nine tournaments left, that could change quickly.

"A guy that's 50th on the money list right now takes a win, he might lock up his card," said Colt Knost of Dallas, currently eligible for a card at No. 24.

Two of the final nine events, the Soboba Classic in San Jacinto, Calif., in late September and the Nationwide Tour Championship in Charleston, S.C., in late October, have $1,000,000 purses. The winner earns $180,000 of that, meaning the top finishers in those tournaments can climb the list quickly.

"That will be a massive opportunity to do some damage on the money list," said Alistair Presnell of Melbourne, Australia, who is 30th.

The 25 exemptions do not weigh heavily on the players' minds. They focus on their game, the course and beating the field in a given week rather than the money.

"I put more trust in the Lord than I do the money list," said David Mathis of Raleigh, N.C.

Mathis ranks 29th entering the tournament, but takes a shot-by-shot approach to his game rather than worrying about the bigger picture.

"If I hit this shot, then this is going to allow me the best opportunity to hit the next one," he said of his mindset.

"A six-footer is a six-footer regardless of whether it's for eagle or for bogey."

The man currently on the fence at No. 25, Keegan Bradley of Woodstock, Vt., doesn't watch the list and instead tries to beat the field.

"This is my first year out here, this is my first time in this position, so I'm just trying to keep it as simple as I can," he said.

"I wouldn't play any different. I try to win every tournament I play."

That mindset -- winning takes care of the money -- was a constant with those players near the cutoff, above and below.

"I'm not going to lie, I think about it, knowing I'm right there," Knost said. "But I know one good week takes care of everything."

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