Perry committed to getting better, fitter as he nears 50

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Kenny Perry, 49, shot a 5-under 67 to open his 22nd PLAYERS Championship appearance.

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- He's three months shy of his 50th birthday and people have noticed.

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In fact, the Champions Tour has taken the opportunity to court Kenny Perry this week. Dropped by to chat. Brought a shirt and a cap. Hinted about how nice it would be to see his smiling -- and relaxed face -- come August.

"It's been interesting,'' he said. " . . . As poorly as I've played this year, I was ready to go after last week.''

After Thursday? Maybe not so much.

Perry, who turns 50 on August 10, opened his 22nd PLAYERS with a smooth little 5-under 67. And that with an eagle, four birdies and one bogey -- at the ninth. He was driving it right up there with playing partners Geoff Ogilvy and Padraig Harrington. The putts were falling.

But they were in last week's opening round at Quail Hollow, too. A 66.

He followed it up with a 79.

"After last week with my debacle in the second round, you know, I don't know what to expect anymore,'' Perry said. "You know, here the last couple of years I knew I was going to be pretty much around par and play better, but I'm all over the lot right now. It's crazy what's going on to me out there.

"I don't know if I'm going to go out there and shoot 67 tomorrow or shoot 75. I don't know. I've got to kind of regroup. I hit the ball nicely today. It was a better ball striking day than I've had all year and I putted nicely, so hopefully things will turn around.''

Perry is committed to getting better. Always has been. He's dropped about 20 pounds working with a trainer and watching his diet. He's still got a spring in his step too. Might even have a win or two or a Ryder Cup spot in his future.

But lately that no-cut, more laid back Champions Tour life is sounding pretty good.

"I'm looking forward to it,'' he said. "I mean, I'm looking for a stress free, fun environment just to go out there and enjoy all the accomplishments we've had over all these years.

"This is my 24th year. Actually I played TOUR events starting in 1984, but I got my card in 1986. It's been a long road. I'm tired.''

Another good round Friday might perk him up. Another flip-flop? He just doesn't know.

Perry eagled the second hole, was 4-under after seven holes and then got a little sloppy in the middle of his round.

"I've got all these chunk shots in my repertoire right now,'' he said. " Chunked it on 9, made bogey, and then I made two crucial par putts on 10 and 11 to save my round and get the momentum back. And I was able to make a couple more birdies coming in to shoot 5 under, so pretty pleased with it. ''

This is the time of year Perry loves. The warm weather. The courses. Two years ago, he bounced one off a tree in a playoff at the AT&T Classic and he lost to Ryuji Imada. Bad luck? Yes. And no.

Two weeks later, Perry won The Memorial. Three weeks later, he won the Buick Open. Then the John Deere. Played on the winning Ryder Cup team in his home state of Kentucky -- on the course where he lost a playoff to Mark Brooks at the 1996 PGA.

If he got going here where he finished tied for fourth in 1996 and tied for third in 2004? Could another Ryder Cup be in his dwindling PGA TOUR future?

"Well, as poorly as I've played, it's not been a thought at all,'' he said. "I mean, if I can start putting some rounds together and get in a little momentum, then I can kind of shoot toward that as being a goal. But I've just played horrendous this year. I've not had a shot at doing anything.''

Then again, he wasn't feeling that great about this time in 2008, either.

"I banked it off the tree in Atlanta, and that really sparked me and that was in early May,'' he said. "So May is kind of when I start feeling like it's time to play.''

And, this week, back up a good opening round with another one.