Top Contenders at the AT&T National
STUART APPLEBY
Age: 37
Turned Pro: 1992
PGA Tour Victories: 8
2008 Earnings: $1,375,457 (35th)
World Ranking: 36
Highest World Ranking: 8 (2004)
Notable: Won 1998 Kemper Open at TPC Avenel for his second tour victory. Won three consecutive Mercedes-Benz titles from 2004 to '06, joining Gene Littler (1955-57) as the only players to do so. Has four career top-10 finishes at major championships, but has yet to win one.
Personal: Raised on a dairy farm. Enjoys camping. Former Australian rules football player.
Turned Pro: 1992
PGA Tour Victories: 8
2008 Earnings: $1,375,457 (35th)
World Ranking: 36
Highest World Ranking: 8 (2004)
Notable: Won 1998 Kemper Open at TPC Avenel for his second tour victory. Won three consecutive Mercedes-Benz titles from 2004 to '06, joining Gene Littler (1955-57) as the only players to do so. Has four career top-10 finishes at major championships, but has yet to win one.
Personal: Raised on a dairy farm. Enjoys camping. Former Australian rules football player.
K.J. CHOI
Age: 38.
Turned Pro: 1994
PGA Tour victories: 7
2008 Earnings: $1,815,256 (16th)
World Ranking: 10
Highest World Ranking: 8 (2007)
Notable: Defending AT&T National champion was the first Korean to earn a PGA Tour card. Has six top-20 finishes in 2008, but missed the cut in three of his last four events.
Personal: Competed in powerlfiting as a teen, and could squat 250 pounds despite weighing just 95. Began learning golf by studying Jack Nicklaus's instructional books and videos.
Turned Pro: 1994
PGA Tour victories: 7
2008 Earnings: $1,815,256 (16th)
World Ranking: 10
Highest World Ranking: 8 (2007)
Notable: Defending AT&T National champion was the first Korean to earn a PGA Tour card. Has six top-20 finishes in 2008, but missed the cut in three of his last four events.
Personal: Competed in powerlfiting as a teen, and could squat 250 pounds despite weighing just 95. Began learning golf by studying Jack Nicklaus's instructional books and videos.
CHRIS DiMARCO
Age: 39
Turned Pro: 1990
PGA Tour victories: 3
2008 Earnings: $277,139 (141st)
World Ranking: 180
Highest World Ranking: 6 (2005)
Notable: Clinched 2005 Presidents Cup title for United States with a 15-foot birdie putt. Hasn't had a top-10 finish since World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational in August. Underwent shoulder surgery in September.
Personal: The SEC player of the year at Florida in 1990. Has been known to spend hours playing the video game Golden Tee. Known for his "claw" putting grip.
Turned Pro: 1990
PGA Tour victories: 3
2008 Earnings: $277,139 (141st)
World Ranking: 180
Highest World Ranking: 6 (2005)
Notable: Clinched 2005 Presidents Cup title for United States with a 15-foot birdie putt. Hasn't had a top-10 finish since World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational in August. Underwent shoulder surgery in September.
Personal: The SEC player of the year at Florida in 1990. Has been known to spend hours playing the video game Golden Tee. Known for his "claw" putting grip.
FRED FUNK
Age: 52
Turned Pro: 1981
PGA Tour Victories: 8
2008 Earnings: $244,683 (149th)
World Ranking: 207
Highest World Ranking: 21 (2003)
Notable: Became oldest (48) to win the Players Championship in 2005. Has three Champions Tour wins. Personal: Former Maryland golf coach (1982-88) named to the school's hall of fame in 2007.
Turned Pro: 1981
PGA Tour Victories: 8
2008 Earnings: $244,683 (149th)
World Ranking: 207
Highest World Ranking: 21 (2003)
Notable: Became oldest (48) to win the Players Championship in 2005. Has three Champions Tour wins. Personal: Former Maryland golf coach (1982-88) named to the school's hall of fame in 2007.
JIM FURYK
Age: 38
Turned Pro: 1992
PGA Tour Victories: 13
2008 Earnings: $1,658,267 (18th)
World Ranking: 13
Highest World Ranking: 2 (2007)
Notable: Won 2003 U.S. Open with a record-tying 72-hole score. Tied for second in two of last three U.S. Opens. Has at least one win in 11 of his 14 seasons on tour. Member of five Ryder Cup teams and five Presidents Cup teams. His record in Presidents Cup matches is 13-8-2.
Personal: Learned unconventional looping golf swing from his father, Mike, who has been his only swing instructor. An all-American at the University of Arizona. Pittsburgh Steelers fan.
Turned Pro: 1992
PGA Tour Victories: 13
2008 Earnings: $1,658,267 (18th)
World Ranking: 13
Highest World Ranking: 2 (2007)
Notable: Won 2003 U.S. Open with a record-tying 72-hole score. Tied for second in two of last three U.S. Opens. Has at least one win in 11 of his 14 seasons on tour. Member of five Ryder Cup teams and five Presidents Cup teams. His record in Presidents Cup matches is 13-8-2.
Personal: Learned unconventional looping golf swing from his father, Mike, who has been his only swing instructor. An all-American at the University of Arizona. Pittsburgh Steelers fan.
PAUL GOYDOS
Age: 44
Turned Pro: 1989
PGA Tour Victories: 2
2008 Earnings: $1,390,217 (33rd)
World Ranking: 66
Highest World Ranking: 39 (2007)
Notable: Lost in a playoff to Sergio García at the Players Championship when his tee shot at the first playoff hole hit water. Went 11 years between victories on tour, winning the Bay Hill Invitational in 1996 and the Sony Open in 2007.
Personal: Single father of two daughters. The Long Beach State cap he bought for $14.99 and wore during the Players Championship went for $4,000 at a school fundraising auction.
Turned Pro: 1989
PGA Tour Victories: 2
2008 Earnings: $1,390,217 (33rd)
World Ranking: 66
Highest World Ranking: 39 (2007)
Notable: Lost in a playoff to Sergio García at the Players Championship when his tee shot at the first playoff hole hit water. Went 11 years between victories on tour, winning the Bay Hill Invitational in 1996 and the Sony Open in 2007.
Personal: Single father of two daughters. The Long Beach State cap he bought for $14.99 and wore during the Players Championship went for $4,000 at a school fundraising auction.
CHARLES HOWELL III
Age: 29
Turned Pro: 2000
PGA Tour Victories: 2
2008 Earnings: $892,351 (68th)
World Ranking: 69
Highest World Ranking: 15 (2007)
Notable: Member of two Presidents Cup teams. Won 2000 NCAA championship as a junior at Oklahoma State with a record score of 23 under par. Earned special temporary membership status to the PGA Tour in 2001 in only six starts. Rookie of the year in 2001. Won the Jack Nicklaus Award in 2000.
Personal: Won five tournaments before his 11th birthday. Broke 70 at age 10.
Turned Pro: 2000
PGA Tour Victories: 2
2008 Earnings: $892,351 (68th)
World Ranking: 69
Highest World Ranking: 15 (2007)
Notable: Member of two Presidents Cup teams. Won 2000 NCAA championship as a junior at Oklahoma State with a record score of 23 under par. Earned special temporary membership status to the PGA Tour in 2001 in only six starts. Rookie of the year in 2001. Won the Jack Nicklaus Award in 2000.
Personal: Won five tournaments before his 11th birthday. Broke 70 at age 10.
TREVOR IMMELMAN
Age: 28
Turned Pro: 1999
PGA Tour victories: 2
2008 Earnings: $2,097,324 (12th)
World Ranking: 14
Highest World Ranking: 12 (2007)
Notable: Member of two Presidents Cup teams. Won 2008 Masters, his first major championship, becoming the first international player to win the event in five years. PGA Tour rookie of the year in 2006.
Personal: Had surgery on Dec. 18 to remove a benign tumor from his diaphragm. Began playing golf at age 5 and was a scratch golfer by age 12. Won USGA Public Links in 1998. Father, Johan, was commissioner of the Sunshine Tour in South Africa.
Turned Pro: 1999
PGA Tour victories: 2
2008 Earnings: $2,097,324 (12th)
World Ranking: 14
Highest World Ranking: 12 (2007)
Notable: Member of two Presidents Cup teams. Won 2008 Masters, his first major championship, becoming the first international player to win the event in five years. PGA Tour rookie of the year in 2006.
Personal: Had surgery on Dec. 18 to remove a benign tumor from his diaphragm. Began playing golf at age 5 and was a scratch golfer by age 12. Won USGA Public Links in 1998. Father, Johan, was commissioner of the Sunshine Tour in South Africa.
ZACH JOHNSON
Age: 32
Turned Pro: 1998
PGA Tour Victories: 3
2008 Earnings: $545.598 (108th)
World Ranking: 29
Highest World Ranking: 13 (2007)
Notable: Won 2007 Masters, becoming the first player outside the top 50 in the world rankings to win the tournament since the rankings began.
Personal: Sang "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" during the seventh-inning stretch at a Chicago Cubs game in September.
Turned Pro: 1998
PGA Tour Victories: 3
2008 Earnings: $545.598 (108th)
World Ranking: 29
Highest World Ranking: 13 (2007)
Notable: Won 2007 Masters, becoming the first player outside the top 50 in the world rankings to win the tournament since the rankings began.
Personal: Sang "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" during the seventh-inning stretch at a Chicago Cubs game in September.
ANTHONY KIM
Age: 23
Turned Pro: 2006
PGA Tour Victories: 1
2008 Earnings: $2,176,622 (11th)
World Ranking: 20
Highest World Ranking: 19 (2008)
Notable: Won the Wachovia Championship in May, becoming the youngest winner on tour in six years. Shot a 16-under-par 272 to win by five strokes and broke the previous tournament record held by Tiger Woods by three strokes. As the youngest rookie on the tour last year, had four top-10 finishes.
Personal: Three-time all-American and NCAA freshman of the year at the University of Oklahoma. Finalist for the 2006 Ben Hogan award. Member of the 2005 Walker Cup team. Good friends with Chicago Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee.
Turned Pro: 2006
PGA Tour Victories: 1
2008 Earnings: $2,176,622 (11th)
World Ranking: 20
Highest World Ranking: 19 (2008)
Notable: Won the Wachovia Championship in May, becoming the youngest winner on tour in six years. Shot a 16-under-par 272 to win by five strokes and broke the previous tournament record held by Tiger Woods by three strokes. As the youngest rookie on the tour last year, had four top-10 finishes.
Personal: Three-time all-American and NCAA freshman of the year at the University of Oklahoma. Finalist for the 2006 Ben Hogan award. Member of the 2005 Walker Cup team. Good friends with Chicago Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee.
DAVIS LOVE III
Age: 44
Turned Pro: 1985
PGA Tour Victories: 19
2008 Earnings: $251,896 (147th)
World Ranking: 154
Highest World Ranking: 2 (1999)
Notable: Won 1997 PGA Championship at Winged Foot. Two-time winner of the Players Championship (1992, 2003). His 2007 season was cut short when he tore tendons in his left ankle that required surgery to repair.
Personal: Attended sniper school at Fort Benning. Avid outdoorsman enjoys fishing, hunting and snowboarding. Owns and raises horses with a seven-stall barn at home.
Turned Pro: 1985
PGA Tour Victories: 19
2008 Earnings: $251,896 (147th)
World Ranking: 154
Highest World Ranking: 2 (1999)
Notable: Won 1997 PGA Championship at Winged Foot. Two-time winner of the Players Championship (1992, 2003). His 2007 season was cut short when he tore tendons in his left ankle that required surgery to repair.
Personal: Attended sniper school at Fort Benning. Avid outdoorsman enjoys fishing, hunting and snowboarding. Owns and raises horses with a seven-stall barn at home.
ROCCO MEDIATE
Age: 45
Turned Pro: 1985
PGA Tour Victories: 5
2008 Earnings: $1,161,840 (47th)
World Ranking: 48
Highest World Ranking: 12 (2002)
Notable: Nearly became the oldest U.S. Open champion last month before losing in a 19-hole playoff to Tiger Woods. After starting 2007 as a walking commentator for the Golf Channel, had his best year on tour since 2003: a second-place finish, three top-10s and more than $1 million.
Personal: Made his first appearance in the World Series of Poker in 2005 and finished 600th out of 5,619 players. He is a distant cousin of D.C. United player Domenic Mediate.
Turned Pro: 1985
PGA Tour Victories: 5
2008 Earnings: $1,161,840 (47th)
World Ranking: 48
Highest World Ranking: 12 (2002)
Notable: Nearly became the oldest U.S. Open champion last month before losing in a 19-hole playoff to Tiger Woods. After starting 2007 as a walking commentator for the Golf Channel, had his best year on tour since 2003: a second-place finish, three top-10s and more than $1 million.
Personal: Made his first appearance in the World Series of Poker in 2005 and finished 600th out of 5,619 players. He is a distant cousin of D.C. United player Domenic Mediate.
STEVE STRICKER
Age: 41
Turned Pro: 1990
PGA Tour victories: 4
2008 Earnings: $1,566,521 (22nd)
World Ranking: 7
Highest World Ranking: 4 (2007)
Notable: Member of 1996 and 2007 Presidents Cup teams. Won 1996 Kemper Open for his first tour victory. Voted PGA Tour comeback player of the year in 2006 and '07. Finished in the top 10 in nine of the 23 tournaments he played in 2007.
Personal: All-American at University of Illinois. After coming up short by two strokes at tour qualifying school in 2005, he went to Cherokee Country Club in Madison, Wis., in December and pounded balls out of a trailer on the snowy practice range until he fixed his swing.
Turned Pro: 1990
PGA Tour victories: 4
2008 Earnings: $1,566,521 (22nd)
World Ranking: 7
Highest World Ranking: 4 (2007)
Notable: Member of 1996 and 2007 Presidents Cup teams. Won 1996 Kemper Open for his first tour victory. Voted PGA Tour comeback player of the year in 2006 and '07. Finished in the top 10 in nine of the 23 tournaments he played in 2007.
Personal: All-American at University of Illinois. After coming up short by two strokes at tour qualifying school in 2005, he went to Cherokee Country Club in Madison, Wis., in December and pounded balls out of a trailer on the snowy practice range until he fixed his swing.
D.J. TRAHAN
Age: 27
Turned Pro: 2003
PGA Tour Victories: 2
2008 Earnings: $1,620,833 (19th)
World Ranking: 82
Highest World Ranking: 84 (2008)
Notable: Became just the second player in his 20s to win the Bob Hope Classic, his second tour win. Finished tied for fourth at the 2008 U.S. Open.
Personal: Won the 2000 Public Links title. Helped Clemson win its first NCAA title in 2003.
Turned Pro: 2003
PGA Tour Victories: 2
2008 Earnings: $1,620,833 (19th)
World Ranking: 82
Highest World Ranking: 84 (2008)
Notable: Became just the second player in his 20s to win the Bob Hope Classic, his second tour win. Finished tied for fourth at the 2008 U.S. Open.
Personal: Won the 2000 Public Links title. Helped Clemson win its first NCAA title in 2003.
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