Cox Classic: Third is the word

Second wins are giving second chances to Michael Sim and Kevin Johnson.

Each is going to return to the PGA Tour — next year, or as soon as next week if either is this week's Cox Classic champion. Three wins in a season result in an instant promotion to the PGA Tour.

Sim was on that tour the previous two years, albeit on a limited schedule following a spinal stress fracture diagnosed before his 2007 rookie season.

“I didn't play golf for six months before my first tournament,'' Sim said.

Johnson's road back is much longer. His PGA Tour career has been brief, one full season (2001) and a total of 41 tournaments. Last year, the 42-year-old from Plymouth, Mass., barely registered on the Nationwide Tour - three made cuts in 22 starts to be 208th on the final money list.

“The change in my game from last year hasn't been drastic. I've improved in all aspects and my confidence is up,'' Johnson said. “I'm making money instead of missing cuts.''

Cox Classic galleries have it easy in following the pair in the first two rounds at Champions Run. They are in the same threesome, with tee times of 7:15 a.m. today and 12:15 p.m. Friday to accommodate Golf Channel live coverage.

Chris Smith in 1997, Heath Slocum in 2001 and Jason Gore in 2005 all made Omaha their third win of the season. Never has a third win come earlier than the Cox Classic.

“I'm not sure why this is the venue for the (instant) promotion, but having it come here would be great.'' Sim said. “That was one of my goals to start the year, to get three wins.''

Sim hasn't played since being paired with Tiger Woods in the final round of the U.S. Open last month at Bethpage Black. Sim's tie for 18th boosted his world ranking to 83rd, the highest ever for a full-time member of the Nationwide Tour.

“That was a memorable round, something that probably will inspire me a lot, watching how he played,'' said Sim, 24. “I know what I have to do now to get to the next level.''

Sim stayed in Scottsdale, Ariz., during his four-week “vacation,'' missing only two Nationwide events. Since he gained his second win, at the BMW Charity Pro-Am on May 17, he's played in only the Rex Hospital Open in Raleigh, N.C., and the Prince George's County Open near Washington, D.C.

So the attention, and pressure, of a possible third win hasn't been near what it could be for the Scottish-born Australian.

“In Raleigh, the attention got to me a little bit and I didn't play very well on Saturday,'' he said. “But since Kevin won twice now, there's probably not as much media attention on me.''

If Sim carts home the $130,500 first-place check from the record Cox Classic purse of $725,000, he would be the first $500,000 man in a Nationwide season. He's leading the money list with $388,117, with Johnson second at $253,455.

Both of Johnson's wins came in a three-week period, at Raleigh and at the Knoxville Open.

“I'm not looking at it as going for a third win,'' Johnson said. “I have to look at the big picture. I need to play well the remainder of my career. If I keep playing solid golf, things will happen next year and the next.''

A tie for 34th in 2005 is the Clemson grad's best showing in Omaha, and he's teed it up here 11 of the tournament's first 13 years. He had a memorable final round in 1999, making three eagles to tie a tour record.

Sim said he's ready to make eagles, birdies, whatever.

“It's a course where you have to make a lot of birdies and the way I'm playing now, I've made a lot more birdies than in the past,'' he said. “I played today and the course seemed in great condition. The greens seemed to be at a nice speed and I'm sure scores will be low again.”

Johnson was more succinct about the scoring conditions here.

“They scorch the grass off at this tournament,'' he said.