BRIDGEPORT -- Although it's unlikely he'll pocket any of the green, Ben Bates can appreciate, as much as anyone, the first $1 million purse in the history of the Nationwide Tour.

The 47-year-old Florida native has been playing golf on the tour since its inception as the Hogan Tour in 1990.

"I was there when Ben Hogan hit that inaugural tee shot in Bakersfield, Calif.," Bates said Thursday, before his opening round in the Nationwide Tour Players Cup at the prestigious Pete Dye Golf Club.

Back then, Bates said, players drooled over purses significantly smaller than what they've become on the Nationwide Tour, the PGA Tour's little brother.

The Cup's $1 million jackpot -- the winner takes home $180,000 -- would be a crazy dream for the Nationwide players of the early 1990s.

"We played for $100,000 (purse) and thought that was big money back then," said Bates, who carded a 5-over 77 on Thursday and was in jeopardy of missing the cut going into today's second round of the four-day, 72-hole Players Cup.

Even with an early exit, chances are Bates will leave West Virginia satisfied. He sees the bigger picture. 

"I think this is a wonderful week because this is the goal of the Tour -- to get all of our purses to $1 million," said Bates, who played at Troy University. "To be around for this first one is pretty special."

The Nationwide Tour has one more $1 million event (the Tour Championship) scheduled for the fall. Bates thinks it's realistic to get the majority of the tournaments on the Tour to $1 million.

"As long as the level of play continues to be as good as it is, I don't see any reason why we can't get to that figure," he said.

Looking at the Nationwide Tour from an evolution standpoint, Bates said the skill level has risen dramatically since he first teed it up in 1990.

"The majority of people who play this tour have PGA Tour experience," said Bates, who himself spent four years on the PGA Tour (1998-99, 2000-01). "Any week out here you can look down the field and see 15 to 20 guys who've won on the PGA Tour."

BRIDGEPORT -- Although it's unlikely he'll pocket any of the green, Ben Bates can appreciate, as much as anyone, the first $1 million purse in the history of the Nationwide Tour.

The 47-year-old Florida native has been playing golf on the tour since its inception as the Hogan Tour in 1990.

"I was there when Ben Hogan hit that inaugural tee shot in Bakersfield, Calif.," Bates said Thursday, before his opening round in the Nationwide Tour Players Cup at the prestigious Pete Dye Golf Club.

Back then, Bates said, players drooled over purses significantly smaller than what they've become on the Nationwide Tour, the PGA Tour's little brother.

The Cup's $1 million jackpot -- the winner takes home $180,000 -- would be a crazy dream for the Nationwide players of the early 1990s.

"We played for $100,000 (purse) and thought that was big money back then," said Bates, who carded a 5-over 77 on Thursday and was in jeopardy of missing the cut going into today's second round of the four-day, 72-hole Players Cup.

Even with an early exit, chances are Bates will leave West Virginia satisfied. He sees the bigger picture. 

"I think this is a wonderful week because this is the goal of the Tour -- to get all of our purses to $1 million," said Bates, who played at Troy University. "To be around for this first one is pretty special."

The Nationwide Tour has one more $1 million event (the Tour Championship) scheduled for the fall. Bates thinks it's realistic to get the majority of the tournaments on the Tour to $1 million.

"As long as the level of play continues to be as good as it is, I don't see any reason why we can't get to that figure," he said.

Looking at the Nationwide Tour from an evolution standpoint, Bates said the skill level has risen dramatically since he first teed it up in 1990.

"The majority of people who play this tour have PGA Tour experience," said Bates, who himself spent four years on the PGA Tour (1998-99, 2000-01). "Any week out here you can look down the field and see 15 to 20 guys who've won on the PGA Tour."

There's more money to be had on the European Tour, but don't try to tell Bates those guys are better than the Nationwide players.

"You'd have to take me behind the barn and beat me to convince me that there's another tour better than this one -- other than the PGA Tour," Bates said, adding that European Tour players are perceived to be better because their tournaments have larger purses (typically $2 to $3 million).

 "I can assure you the quality of play out here is better than that on the European Tour," Bates said.

"We've got players from all over the world. The European Tour can't say that. Other than the players on the PGA Tour, we've got the best players in the world."

In his four full seasons on the PGA Tour, Bates entered 121 tournaments and finished in the top 10 three times.

He's won twice on the Nationwide Tour (1997 and 2004). Bates began this week ranked 110th on the current money list at $20,832.

One of a handful of late 40-somethings playing on the Nationwide Tour, Bates would like to play a couple more seasons on the PGA Tour. The Champions Tour represents a new start down the road.

"Obviously I would have loved to have spent the whole time on the regular tour but I've been lucky to have this (Nationwide) to play," Bates said.

--Contact sportswriter Tom Aluise at t...@dailymail.com or 348-4871.