Stalwarts hitting it with the young kids in Hawaii

text size

Cohen/Getty Images

Loren Roberts, 53, plans to make a few starts on the PGA TOUR in 2009. He finished second in a TOUR event as recently as 2005.

Yes, that's Loren Roberts teeing it up this week at the Sony Open in Hawaii.

And, yes, that's Jeff Sluman.

The two Champions Tour stalwarts are playing this week with the young guys on the PGA TOUR. Each is using his one-time top 50 career money exemption to play on the PGA TOUR in 2009.

More

• Kupelian archive • Give us your take on Facebook

Roberts plans to play with the younger set "probably three, four times max." There is a practical side to his decision and also an intriguing component to it.

"If I don't use it this year, I'll probably lose it," Roberts said. "I'm 53. I may as well take it and do it."

That's one of the practical reasons. The other is to keep active by filling in some of the gaps on the Champions Tour schedule.

Roberts knows what he's getting into. He knows the level on the PGA TOUR continues to skyrocket and that the power game is taking over. He has no misconceptions. He's been around long enough to appreciate the challenge he's facing -- and that's exactly why he's doing it.

"If I'm going to do anything in a regular tour event, everything has to be going about perfect," he said.

"The main reason I'm doing it is kind of a motivation. I want to come out and spend a little time with the young guys, watch how they hit it -- they all hit it so doggone far -- and use it as kind of a motivating factor to get me pumped."

The goal is to "go out, play really good and see what happens," Roberts said.

"Obviously, I'd love to make the cut," he said. "The first goal is to play as well as I can the first two days and see what happens."

Roberts has won eight times on the PGA TOUR and eight times on the Champions Tour since turning 50 in 2005. His victories on the Champions Tour include the 2005 JELD-WEN Tradition, the 2006 Senior British Open and the 2007 Constellation Energy Senior Players Championship. He won once last year, at the Commerce Bank Championship.

Roberts won the Charles Schwab Cup in 2007 and finished sixth on the final money list a year ago, with 13 top 10 finishes.

After playing nearly a full schedule on the PGA TOUR in 2005, Roberts turned his attention to the Champions Tour. He didn't play any PGA TOUR events last year, three in 2007 and four in 2006.

He is intrigued by what he might see and experience this year.

Sluman

"The jump (in performance) from what I saw in '05 to now is unbelievable ," Roberts said. "The length aspect, the power game -- it has just jumped light years, I think. I don't think I've lost distance. I'm hitting it probably as far as I ever did with the equipment and balls and everything.

"You always had the odd big hitter. Now they all hit it 300 yards. It's amazing. It's a different game, no question."

Roberts wants to see how the young guys are doing it now. Nothing wrong with that. In fact, good for him for being proactive as he prepares for the Champions TOUR campaign where, clearly, he will have lofty expectations.

While he's glad for the opportunity to see how others are doing it, here's a word of advice for the young guys on the PGA TOUR.

If you get the chance, pay attention to how Roberts plays the game. While he's watching you pound the golf ball, watch how he carries himself and, most of all, take notes on how he putts.

The man is a wizard on the greens. The Boss of the Moss reference isn't misplaced. What most golfers wouldn't give for a putting stroke like Roberts'.

Roberts doubts any of his young competitors have thought of studying his approach to putting during his cameo appearances. I thought of it and I'm saying it is a very good idea. Roberts is looking for motivation and insights to apply to his own game. That's a wise old hand who knows it's never too late to learn more about this game.

If the young guys are smart, they'll do the same and watch Roberts.

After this week's Sony Open, Roberts plans to play in his hometown of Memphis at the Stanford St. Jude in June and the U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee in July. There is a possibility he will add a fourth PGA TOUR appearance.

Vartan Kupelian is a freelance columnist for PGATOUR.COM. His views do not necessarily represent the views of the PGA TOUR.