CHICAGO — Kevin Streelman doesn't jet around in a private plane like Phil Mickelson. Last week he got in his car and made the two-day drive from his home in west suburban Winfield, Ill., to Phoenix.
Streelman, 28, is trying to break through on the mini-tours, far removed from the glamorous and pampered lifestyle on the PGA Tour.
"People say I'm the luckiest guy in the world to do what I do," Streelman said. "They don't see the 2,000-mile car rides."
Yet beginning Monday, Streelman will begin play in an event with a first prize that will exceed the $1.62 million Mickelson pocketed for winning the Players Championship.
Streelman is one of 40 players entered in the Ultimate Game at Wynn Las Vegas. The winner's share: $2 million.
Talk about a life-changing opportunity. Streelman was thrilled when he collected $17,000 for winning a tournament on the Gateway Tour earlier this year.
"That would be a good week," Streelman of the potential Ultimate Game windfall.
The tournament is designed to give PGA Tour wannabes a chance to play for the biggest first prize in golf. There are two requirements:
The field is open to players who never have been fully exempt on the PGA, Champions, Nationwide or European Tours.
Each entrant has to pony up $50,000.
The format calls for match play beginning Monday at Lake Las Vegas. The 10 players who win their first two rounds collect $100,000 and advance to the finals. Two other players from the consolation bracket also move on and win back their entry fee.
The 12 survivors will play 36 holes of stroke play June 7 and 8 at Wynn Las Vegas with one winner taking home the $2 million prize. The tournament was conceived by former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Steve Bartkowski, an avid golfer and a regular in various celebrity tournaments.
"Pressure," Bartkowski said, "is when you're playing for your own cash."
Actually, that's not exactly true in Streelman's case. He and another golfer are being staked by a group headed by Robert Kahan, a retired Wall Street equities trader.
Under terms of the deal, Kahan's group gets the first $50,000 back, and then everything is split 50-50 from there. If Streelman wins it all, he would get $975,000, with Kahan's group getting the rest.
Some might call it gambling. Then again, isn't any investment a form of gambling?
"This is a fun venture we hope will turn into a profitable venture," Kahan said. "We think we are taking a businessman's risk."
Kahan will be on hand to root for his players. He said his only expectation is for them to be well prepared and "try their hardest."
Streelman said there hasn't been a hint of pressure from Kahan. But is there a chance he might put pressure on himself so he doesn't lose Kahan's money?
"I try not to think that way," Streelman said. "For me to play my best, they know I can't worry about money. They're not going to force anything on me. Besides, I don't think the $50,000 is going to make or break those guys."
That kind of money would make a big difference for Streelman. A graduate of Wheaton-Warrenville High School, he played college golf at Duke. Since turning pro in 2001, he has been knocking around the mini-tours trying to move up to the next level.
Streelman is confident he can compete against the best. He has qualified on Mondays for five PGA Tour events, placing 29th in the 2005 Greater Milwaukee Open.
"I'm trying to improve a little bit each year," Streelman said. "Golf is an up-and-down game. You want to see progress. I feel like I've progressed."
Streelman is pleased with his year thus far. He has won almost $80,000 and ranks second on the Hooters Tour with $51,428 in earnings. He also has advanced to regional qualifying for the U.S. Open.
Streelman will try to earn a trip to Oakmont on June 4 in California. It could be an incredible week for him if he qualifies for his first Open and then wins the big money that weekend in Las Vegas.
When asked which would mean more to him, Streelman said, "The ($975,000). It only cost $110 to try to get into the Open."
At this point, Streelman isn't allowing himself to dream about the big prize. He is concentrating on winning his first two rounds of match play, which would earn him $25,000 after his split with Kahan.
"That would be a nice day," Streelman said. "I would be excited with $25,000."
But what if Streelman does go the distance? What if he is faced with a putt that could mean nearly $1 million or nothing if he misses?
How would he react to that kind of pressure?
"I've had pressure putts in the past," Streelman said. "I made a nice 6-footer to win the Gateway tournament. I would try to fall back on that experience. Use my preparation. Then all you can do is pull the trigger."
And hope that life-changing putt falls.