Casey Martin

Martin shot a 5-over par 77 on the final day of PGA Qualifying school and did not earn his tour card for next year's PGA season.

Martin, whose debilitating leg ailment has made him a sympathetic figure in the world of golf, will be in position to earn his PGA Tour card when the final round of the National Qualifying Tournament gets under way Monday. A PGA Tour member in 2000, Martin will enter the sixth round of the grueling event in a tie for 21st at 10-under-par 350, seven strokes behind co-leaders Jeff Brehaut and Brian Bateman and three away from not qualifying.

Martin will make his first PGA Tour start of the season at this week's Kemper Open by virtue of a sponsor's exemption.

Martin hopes to play again in March in two Buy.com events in Australia. He is recovering from surgery on his leg, the L.A. Times reports.

Martin had surgery to remove a rare bacterial infection in his withered right leg, ESPN reports.