Slew of veterans have plenty of fight left for Stadium Course

text size

Jose Maria Olazabal's world-class short game always translates well to the Stadium Course's tiny greens. (Getty Images)

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- They're at the time of their careers when if it's not a cranky back, it's a sore shoulder. Or fatigue. Or a sinus problem Or . . . .

Face it. When you're fortysomething, there's always something nagging. But that doesn't mean it's time to count them out. Especially here at THE PLAYERS Championship.

With his back problems under control, Fred Couples has enjoyed a hot start to 2008. (Getty Images)

THE PLAYERS

Tee Times Coverage

Don't look now, but Fred Couples and Steve Elkington are playing well enough to think about joining Jack Nicklaus as three-time winners of the tournament.

And Jose Maria Olazabal? This is just his fourth event after a nine-month layoff, but he can draw on the experience of finishing tied for seventh and third the past two years.

Olazabal, who came back from rheumatoid polyarthritis in the 1990s to win his second Masters, has struggled with fatigue and aches since last year. He declined to discuss how he's feeling this week, but he did reiterate that it's hard to explain his top-10s here.

"I've always said I don't feel comfortable on this course'' Olazabal said. "I'm not a good driver of the ball and this course demands everything -- every shot. To hit fairways is a premium. And with small greens and hard greens, if you're not in the fairway you're not going to have much chance of attacking the flag or keeping it on the green. So in that matter I haven't felt comfortable.

"It's a very demanding golf course. If you're not really playing good golf, you're going to struggle.''

Last year, the imaginative Spaniard opened with a 78 and followed it with rounds of 66-69-67 to finish tied for third, three shots behind winner Phil Mickelson. Two years ago, a third-round 74 led to a seventh-place finish.

This year, he's struggling. The nine months off have left him scrambling for his game and top physical condition. He tied for 26th at the Shell Houston Open, then missed the cut at both the Masters and Wachovia Championship.

"I'm not feeling good about my game,'' he said. "... I don't feel great about the way I feel or how I'm hitting it but it is a process I have to go through.''

In Houston, Olazabal putted the Redstone greens well and got the good side of the draw, finishing before Friday's rain delay. "I was quite wayward off the tee but had a couple of good breaks and some good days on the greens,'' he said.

He'll need the same here, if he's to contend, he said. So you might want to look at Couples and Elkington, instead.

"I think Freddie's playing quite well," he said. "I saw him play very well last week on a tough golf course. The only thing that is not working for him right now is the putter. If he starts making those 5- and 6-footers I'm sure he'll be in contention.

"And Steve is a solid player tee-to-green. He has a nice simple swing. Very consistent. Courses like this are suited for him.''

Here's a look at the top five veterans with chances to win here:

• Fred Couples. He's always nursing that back of his, but he's managed three top-10 finishes this year, including a tie for fourth in Houston and a tie for eighth at the Wachovia Championship. The 2009 Presidents Cup captain won here in 1984 and 1996 and could make it one in each of three decades. His scoring average is 72.48.

• Steve Elkington. Another two-time winner, who's turning it on this year. The Aussie, who moved to Texas to play for Dave Williams at Houston back in the early 80s and never left, has two top-five finishes this year and two more top-10s in the last three events. He missed the cut at in the wind at the EDS Byron Nelson Championship but always plays well here. He has a 71.64 scoring average and finished tied for sixth and 17th in 2006 and 2005, respectively.

• Bernhard Langer. He hasn't won here but does have three top-five finishes. He missed the cut at the Masters, but is having a good year on the Champions Tour. He's won twice and had three other top-fives.

• Miguel Angel Jimenez. The 44-year-old is coming off a tie for fourth at the Open de Espana and a share of eighth at the Masters. His best finish here is a tie for 38th, but this guy is full of surprises.

• Mark Calcavecchia. He's had two top-12s in the last four years at TPC Sawgrass. It's hit or miss with Calc, but he's already had two top-10s this year, including a tie for fourth at The Honda Classic.