The reality for Jeff Julian is that time is running out.

It's running out because the 41-year-old former PGA Tour member has ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis).

Better known as Lou Gehrig's disease, the neuromuscular disorder is characterized by progressive muscle weakness. It's usually fatal and there is no cure.

Time is also running out on the efforts of Jim Smith (not his real name because he insists on remaining anonymous) to give Julian the opportunity to play in a final-stage qualifying tournament Monday at the Mandarin Golf Club in Markham, Ont., where four spots will be available for next week's Bell Canadian Open at the nearby Angus Glen Golf Club.

"If I had the money, I'd take care of all his expenses myself to get him into that qualifying tournament," Smith said. "I'm still trying to find some company or somebody who is willing to help."

Julian is a native of Portland, Me., and a former resident of Norwich, Vt., who plays out of the Quechee Club. He, his wife, Kimberly, and their two sons currently live in Branson, Mo.

A golf professional since 1986, Julian has been back and forth on the PGA and Buy.Com Tours over the years. Last year, his last full season on the PGA Tour, he played in 22 events, made only six cuts and finished with $55,132 U.S. in earnings.

One of his last events of the 2001 season was the Bell Canadian Open at the Royal Montreal Golf Club in September, where he tied for 34th to earn his largest paycheque of the season, $17,986.67.

In October, Julian was diagnosed with ALS.

At this year's Greater Hartford Open in June, Julian used the last of his seven special exemptions to get into regular PGA Tour events in 2002, and he missed the cut for the seventh time.

"I saw a piece that ESPN or the Golf Channel had done on him while watching TV after a round of golf I played earlier this summer at Angus Glen," Smith said. "I was struck by what I saw, and I said: 'Why can't I do something to help this guy?' "

In the weeks since, Smith has developed a relationship with Julian and used every contact he had to try to get Julian an exemption directly into next week's Bell Canadian Open. He's gone to sponsors of the event, the Royal Canadian Golf Association, which runs the championship, and even the PGA Tour.

"A lot of people expressed sympathy and so on," Smith said. "Some saw it as a Casey Martin-type thing that would open a can of worms if they gave Jeff an exemption. But what you're really talking about here is a real feel-good story. A guy whose whole life has been about golf and the fact that he's still playing.

"It's not that the guy has a broken leg and will be better next year," Smith said. "Chances are Jeff wouldn't be around next year. You would have thought that in the interest of the game, something could have been done."

The RCGA has three "at-large" exemptions to give between now and next week for the country's oldest golf championship, but Smith is still trying to find a way to get Julian in the field of 40 to 50 players for Monday's qualifier.

"It's not too late," added Smith, who spoke to Julian and his wife by phone yesterday. "Jeff could be up there on a moment's notice. And I'd bet if he went to that qualifier, he would get one of the spots."

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