13 to watch for 2013: No. 6 Michael Allen

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Michael Allen looks to have another big year after a two-win 2012.

TOP 13 FOR 2013: No. 7 Elkington | No. 8 Cook | No. 9 Chapman | No. 10 Calcavecchia | No. 11 Wood | No. 12 Mediate | No. 13 Montgomerie | MORE: Rookies in 2013

Michael Allen won’t complain about his 2012 campaign. At the same time he knows a very good year could have been a monster year.

Allen has been a mainstay on the Champions Tour. He was the first multiple winner on the Champions Tour last year and came within a stroke here and a stroke there of backing up victories at the Encompass Insurance Pro-Am and, a week later, the Liberty Mutual Insurance Legends of Golf (with partner David Frost).

In a four-tournament sequence, Allen bracketed the victories with a runner-up finish at the Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic and a T4 at the Insperity Championship. The next four events featured three more top 10s and an 11th at the Senior PGA Championship. In all, Allen had 12 top 10s in 22 starts, second only to Bernhard Langer’s 17.

Later in the season, Allen lost a playoff to Willie Wood at the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open. Allen also narrowly missed a spot in the Corey Pavin-Peter Senior playoff at the Allianz Championship in February. He missed a birdie putt on the 54th hole which have made it a three-man playoff. A shot here, a shot there.

But Allen made more of those shots than he missed. A highlight of the season came when he qualified for the U.S. Open at the Olympic Club in San Francisco (T56). He is a native of San Mateo, Calif., and lives in the area and playing at Olympic was a prominent goal for the 2012 season.

Allen’s excellence was reflected statistically. He led the Champions Tour in putting average (1.739) and putts per round (28.66). He also led rounds in the 60s, with 43, and in sub-par rounds, with 54. He was No. 3 in the all-around ranking.

Allen will celebrate his 53rd birthday on Jan. 31 and could be on the verge of his biggest Champions Tour season yet.

2012 QUICK REVIEW