ADAMONIS

The golf season is beginning to wind down for most Rhode Islanders, but not for the five guys from the state who carry PGA Tour cards.

For them, the next two months will be vital. They will help determine where they will play next year. Brad Faxon, Billy Andrade, Brett Quigley, Patrick Sheehan and Brad Adamonis will all see their status affected by the seven-week fall series.

Here is where the Rhode Islanders stand:

Brad Faxon

The 25-year tour veteran has yet to play this year because of knee problems. He made an attempt to return in June, and did take part in the CVS Caremark Charity Classic, the event he co-hosts with Andrade. But knee problems resurfaced. He played in two of the pro-ams at the Deutsche Bank Championship two weeks ago at the TPC of Boston, a course he helped redesign. But he did that riding in a cart. Walking a full round remains a problem.

The Barrington resident settled for doing TV work during the Deutsche Bank. He reported, though, that he can see improvement, and not only with his knee.

“I’m starting to play better,” he said. He has used a special exemption for this year for being in the top 25 on the all-time money list. Since he has not played, he will receive an injury exemption for next year.

Regardless of what happens, he also has another exempt year available for being in the top 50 on the all-time money list. Since he is 47, the two years of exemptions take him to 2011, the year he will turn 50 and be eligible for the Champions Tour. Thus, he is pretty well set. Still, he said he was hoping to play at least once in the fall series.

“I can play up to five events and still have the medical exemptions (for next year),” he said. “I’d like to be able to play at least once this year.”

Billy Andrade

183rd on the money list with $217,078

Andrade has come up with strong finishes before and he needs a huge one this time.

Only the top 125 maintain full playing privileges. Those from 126 to 150, where Andrade finished last year, keep cards but are limited in participation.

Andrade has options available. He has done TV work and could probably do more if he chooses to go in that direction. He could play on the Nationwide Tour. Or he could seek sponsor’s exemptions for tour events, as he did this year.

Four of the key statistics the tour maintains are listed here for each player. Of all the stats, the one regarding Andrade’s putting might be the hardest to believe. The Bristol native has long been one of the tour’s best on the greens. This year he is 191st in putting, which goes a long way to explain why he has not made more money.

Driving distance: 283.7 (129th); green in regulation: 62.93 (115th); putting: 1.83 (191st)’ all-around: 1,259 (199th)

Brett Quigley

$818, 961, 105th

Quigley sounds enthusiastic when talking about the fall series.

He is in great shape, at 105th on the money list, and might not have to play at all to maintain full playing priviliges. But after missing two months with a stress fracture, he says he is feeling good, especially in the mental aspects of the game.

“I could play as many as five of the fall events,” he said. He will get more sleep there than at home. He did not make it home in time from the Deutsche Bank to see the birth of his second daughter. His wife, Amy, went into labor the day after the Deutsche Bank finished, while her husband was en route to Florida. Quigley had a message waiting when he landed in Florida, telling him he no longer had to rush. Lucille Elizabeth, as the baby has been named, was born as her father was flying home.

Driving distance 287.3 (93rd); greens in regulation: 62.84 (118th); putting; 1.81 (158th); all around: 956 (151st)

Patrick Sheehan

$704, 374, 116th

After losing his card in 2006, returning to the Nationwide Tour in 2007 and playing well enough to return to the big tour, Sheehan appreciates his job more than ever.

When he was here for the Deutsche Bank Championship, he was relaxed and happy. As is his practice, he will play as often as he can.

“It’s what I do,” he said. He appears to enjoy doing it more than ever.

Driving distance: 284.5 (122nd); green in regulation: 63.5 (96th); putting: 1.785 (70th); all-around: 856 (118th).

Brad Adamonis

$729,156, 114th

The tour rookie from Cumberland caught a bad break when he was the first man out for the FedEx Cup, ranked 121st when only the top 120 got to participate.

In the long run, though, it might turn out to be a benefit. Adamonis has battled health and injury problems all season and the enforced six-week break gives him plenty of time to get ready for the stretch run.

Driving distance: 288.7 (79th); greens in regulation: 64.73 (69th); putting 1.786 (73rd); all-around 754 (82nd).

pkenyon@projo.com