Getting to the top on the PGA Tour is a multi-step process these days.
A player who makes it through the Nationwide or the Q-School might have a great week and win an event his first year as 6 did last year. But, those who don't do have to work pretty hard to make it. Last year 20 players made it, 10 from the Nationwide and 10 from Q-School. That isn't bad, 50% of the Nationwide and 30% of the Q-School players survived. 16% of the top 125 were not in the top 125 last year. That is a pretty good turnover in my mind when they are going up against the best players in the world. Another 6 Q-Schoolers and 2 Nationwide grads made it between 126 and 150 and have partial status (assuming they didn't get through Q-School for this year.) Nearly 50% of all players who got on tour survived another year at least to some level.
Many of this year's Q-School and Nationwide grads are in this week's field. Certainly they need to make the most of this opportunity as many of the west coast fields get filled by the top players, but many others have room. The Hope and the Crosby both have larger than average fields because of the multiple courses. The week of the Match Play there is a separate event for everyone below 64 to get a chance to play. And, of course, any week they can finish in the top 10, they can play the next week, so they need to play well when they get the chance.
After the Fed-Ex Cup is finished, many of the top players will stop playing. There are 7 more events that almost everyone who wants to play should be able to get in. Make your money then and move up the list so that next year you'll have better status.
Absent winning an event, the road is tough, but it is done by a lot of guys every year. The best will make it the others won't. That is life in the big time. They can go back to the Nationwide in 2008, cash some nice checks and try again in 2009.