By Larry Bohannon
PGATOUR.com Contributor

LA QUINTA, Calif. -- Steve Elkington says the best part of struggling with injuries and allergies in the last few years has been getting rid of the mid-career blues.

“I went through that about four years ago,” Elkington said Wednesday after posting an 8-under 64 in the first round of the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. “I’m on the other side of that now.”

Elkington, 43, made his 2006 debut Wednesday at La Quinta Country Club and sizzled with seven birdies, one eagle and just one bogey. The 64, Elkington’s best round since a 63 in 1993, put him four shots behind Hope leader Pat Perez, who shot 60 on the Palmer Course at PGA West.

The quick start for Elkington is another sign that he’s putting a series of injuries and other health issues behind him. From a broken shoulder to surgeries on his sinuses, Elkington has struggled to stay healthy enough long enough to return to the championship form that brought him the 1995 PGA Championship. The Australian star and Houston resident showed he was back nearly all the way last year when he finished tied for second in the PGA behind winner Phil Mickelson. Now comes the 64 at the Hope on one of the tournament’s tougher layouts.

“I’m delighted to start the year for me with such a good round,” Elkington said. “I’ve always thought that La Quinta Country Club is always sort of an awkward course for me. I don’t know if I’ve ever had that really low of a round here.”

Elkington kick-started his round with an eagle on the 13th hole at La Quinta, his fourth hole of the day. He hit a 3-wood to about 2 feet on the hole for the kick-in putt. But his round stalled after that with a bogey at the 14th and four consecutive pars before firing a 31 on the front nine,

As Elkington starts his 19th full season on TOUR, he says he feels no complacency that other players in the mid-40s sometimes feel.

“At least right now I’ve got some energy for golf,” he said. “I had a decent year last year and I almost won the PGA. So I have some good things coming my way at little bit.”

Elkington finished 54th on the TOUR money list with $1,410,350, his best ranking since 1999. His second at the PGA Championship was his only top-three finish of the year, but he had three other top-10 finishes, including a sixth at The PLAYERS Championship.

“Golf careers are like any other career,” Elkington said. “You don’t have energy, you don’t have super energy every year. But some years just seem like a waste. I’ve had a few of those with injuries.”

Elkington compared his down years with the years some other golfers had had with injuries,

“For example, like Ernie Els is coming off one, his last year, ’05, was a waste,” Elkington had. “I’ve had a few of those. I feel like for me, at least, I’m not complacent at all. I have none of that.”

With energy to play, Elkington has decided to start his year on the west coast at the Hope, a tournament he has played nine times, making the cut six of those years.

“West coast golf is not for everyone, but I’ve always tried to participate in it and come out and play west coast golf,” he said. “I’ve always enjoyed it, coming out here at this time of year and playing in some good weather and seeing some friends, amateurs that I’ve known over the years.”

The 64 could be part of a strong early push to keep him momentum from last year, but Elkington won’t put pressure on himself to define his 2006 season by his West Coast swing.

“You can’t say that it’s mandatory if you do well on the west coast you’re going to have a great year, because we’ve seen guys do the opposite,” Elkington said. “I think golf is golf. When you’re playing well, the key is doing well on the tour when you do get to playing well. You see it through that week, get up there are far as you can. Take advantage of it.”