Officially, the Nationwide bills itself as “The Tour where the future is playing now.’’ Unofficially, it’s more like, “Go low, or go home.’’

Yeah, it’s kinda like that. If you’re not five or six under par come the weekend, see ya. And if you’re going to win, well, get to 20-under something or you might not make the top 10.

Chris Nallen proved as much last year, when he opened with a 12-under 60 in the Gila River Classic. The former University of Arizona All-American’s performance was the best-ever debut by a rookie, and it helped him establish 18-, 36- and 54-hole records.

But when Nallen cooled off to a 71 in the final round for a 24-under 264 total, it wasn’t quite good enough for the tournament record of 261, which was set by Ben Crane in 2001.

At that point, Nallen looked like he belonged on the PGA Tour rather than the big league’s developmental tour. Strange, but it hasn’t worked out that way, as Nallen’s best finish in 21 starts this season has been a tie for 26 th.

What people don’t remember, although they will shortly, is that Troy Matteson was the runner-up to Nallen by a distant eight shots. Fast forward to this week, and Matteson is a little less than $15,000 shy of setting the Nationwide all-time money record. And if it doesn’t happen at the Oregon Classic perhaps it will come next week when the $450,000 Gila River Classic takes place at Whirlwind Golf Club near Chandler.

“That was a goal this season, to come as close to the money record as we can, if we can’t break it,’’ said Matteson, who recently won his second Nationwide event of the season to go along with three runner-up finishes. He is at $480,229, with Zach Johnson’s $494,882 total from 2003 well within his cross-hairs.

Funny thing, as Matteson’s rise on the Nationwide is the “second best story’’ from its 2005 season.

Jason Gore already has received the Nationwide’s “battlefield promotion,’’ an immediate one-year exemption to the PGA Tour that goes to any Nationwide player who wins three times in the same year. Gore did it in record fashion, as shortly after failing to hold up as the final-round co-leader in the U.S. Open, he reeled off three straight wins on the Nationwide -- then won yet again at the PGA Tour’s 84 Lumber Classic..

But pulling off the Nationwide trifecta is not the way most of these guys work their way to “The Show’’. And with just a month left in the season, the jockeying has begun for those 20 spots that lead to the good life filled with seven-figure purses.

Scottsdale’s Jerry Smith, who just a couple of weeks ago was among those 20 lucky souls, knows the pressure of having to go low.

“There are a lot of us playing that numbers game,’’ Smith told pgatour.com this week after he slid from No. 21 to 24 with $155,255. “When we started the year, I was convinced the number would be over $200,000. But as I look at is now, $190,000 to $195,000 might be good enough.’’

Another pro from Scottsdale, Joe Daley, hopes it doesn’t get much higher. Daley, who won earlier this season at Wichita, currently sits in the No. 17 position with $167,853. And there are other numbers that will be just as important for several stragglers from Scottsdale like Joel Kribel (No. 74, $60,881), Ricky Barnes (No. 76, $57,984), Jeff Quinney (No. 87, $48,867), Matthew Jones (No. ), Todd Demsey (No. 120, $29,827) and Nallen (No. 132, $25,527).

First of all, the top 60 money winners get in the $650,000 Tour Championship, where anything can happen. The top 60 also makes a player fully exempt for next year on the Nationwide if they come up short of one of the top 30 spots at Q-School.

Then there is the Q-School exemptions, as Nos. 21 through 35 all get into the final stage, and Nos. 36 through 70 get into second stage. Translated: You’re guaranteed you can’t throw up on yourself in the first stage.

“If you look at the way things play out, one shot here or there can be costly at this time of year,’’ Smith pointed out. “Everything is amplified as you come down the stretch.

“There is pressure you put on yourself. Pressure from friends, family, the media.’’

Yeah, it’s like that on the Nationwide Tour, where “Go low, or go home’’ is the real battle cry.