ESPN Golf Online news services
Sunday, November 12

SOTOGRANDE, Spain -- Joe Ozaki's gain was Joey Sindelar's loss on Sunday at the American Express Championship.

	Ozaki

Ozaki was never a factor in the final event of the season, but his tie for 35th earned him a PGA Tour card for the 2001 season and sent Sindelar back to Q-School.

Ozaki entered the World Golf Championship event 128th on the PGA Tour money list, about $35,000 behind Sindelar, who held the 125th and final spot to retain playing privileges for next season. Ozaki won $39,500 at Valderrama, enough to push him to 123rd and drop Sindelar out of the top 125.

Ozaki earned an invitation to the American Express Championship based on his standing on the Japan Tour and his ranking in the top 50 in the World Rankings. Sindelar was not eligible for the tournament and now must return to the final stage of Q-School next month if he wants fully exempt status on the PGA Tour.

By finishing in the top 150, Sindelar can get into some PGA Tour events when openings exist, but he cannot control his own schedule.

Bob Burns finished the season at No. 125 with $391,075, the most money ever needed to retain playing privileges for the following year. That total would have put him 102nd just one year earlier, and would have won the money title in 1981.

By winning the American Express Championship, Mike Weir jumped from 27th to sixth on the final money list. He earned $2,547,829 for the year, making him one of 15 players to crack the $2 million mark. Sergio Garcia's tie for fifth allowed him to become the 45th player this year to earn $1 million on the PGA Tour.

Finishing on a high
Sergio Garcia, without a victory in his second season, fired an 8-under 64 Sunday to end the 2000 season.

"They all say this season has been worse than the first, and it probably was a little ... because I haven't had a victory the whole year," the Spaniard said.

Garcia finished at 7-under 281 and had an eagle Sunday at the par-5 fourth to go with six birdies.

"I played a lot of good golf, I had a lot of chances to win," he said. "I couldn't. I just missed one or two victories, but other than that I felt very comfortable how I played.

"To finish with a 64 in my home country was the way you want to finish."

Parnevik exits
Jesper Parnevik withdrew from Sunday's final round with an upset stomach. He shot 73-76-77 and was the third player to withdraw after play began Thursday.

Ernie Els and Rocco Mediate withdrew with back problems. In addition, 14 players in the original field of 69 -- including 12 Americans -- withdrew before play began.