As the winner of the 2004 PLAYERS Championship, PGA TOUR veteran Fred Funk is a fully-exempt PGA TOUR player through the 2009 season. As a 51-year-old, Funk also has a lucrative future on the Champions Tour on the horizon and is sure to be one of the more popular players with his play and his sunny on-course demeanor. Two tours – one player – and some very interesting decisions to make.

At a crossroads as the 2006 season winds down, Funk did an evaluation of the future of his game. With seven PGA TOUR victories, including his landmark PLAYERS victory in his adopted hometown of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., Funk has used accuracy as his weapon over the course of his career. Always one of the straightest drivers on TOUR, Funk felt that his relative lack of length off the tee would hinder his ability to stay competitive on the PGA TOUR. The stats don’t lie – Funk sits No. 201 among Driving Distance leaders in 2006. Compare Funk’s average (272.9 yards) with current TOUR leader J.B. Holmes (317.8 yards) and it’s easy to see why Funk had some concerns about his future. Adding 10-12 yards to go along with his uncanny Driving Accuracy statistics (second on TOUR in 2006 at 77.8 percent) would go a long way in keeping up with the Holmes.

“I’m more motivated than I ever have been to get my head and body ready for next year,” said Funk. “My goal was to pick up three miles per hour in my clubhead speed. That would be huge with the length and set-up of PGA TOUR courses today.”

To add distance and prolong the life of his PGA TOUR career, Funk sought out Dr. Bob Donatelli of Physiotherapy Associates, the Official Provider of Fitness Training and Physical Rehabilitation for the PGA TOUR. Dr. Donatelli is a physical therapist and one of the pioneers of a recent science called Sports Specific Training -- in short, improving strength, range of motion and balance in athletes. Using training methods for each individual sport and tailored for each individual, Donatelli has helped many athletes – including tennis player Andy Roddick and former Major Leaguer Marquis Grissom – in their search for peak performance.

“After evaluating Fred, we decided to concentrate on isolated strengthening of the muscles that are weak, his hip, trunk and shoulder, as well as adding some balance work and explosive training,” said Donatelli.

Prior to the Frys.Com Open, Funk made a two-week commitment to work with Donatelli in Las Vegas on these areas of focus. The results were almost immediate.

“We had a pretty cool thing happen during the week,” relayed Donatelli. “I have a radar gun in the office that can register clubhead speed, which directly correlates to distance. Fred said an improvement of three miles per hour would be great (he began the training program at 106 miles per hour). After six days of training, we tested it again and it reached 121 miles per hour and he was consistently at 112-115 miles per hour.”

Funk said his work in Las Vegas with Donatelli will be a driving force for him this off-season.

I’ve never been this intense with a workout program,” he said. “I’ve been dedicated to him (Donatelli) and he’s been dedicated to me and it’s been a lot of fun. I’ve had some quick results, and I’m just having fun with it. It’s a great program.”

This core training for golf is now available to the general public, and Donatelli is excited that Physiotherapy Associates will be assisting the weekend golf warrior in reaching his or her potential. More information on the Physiotherapy Associates Golf Performance Enhancement Program can be found at www.strengthenyourgame.com.

“Physiotherapy Associates has more than 100 physical therapists throughout the country that are certified in golf,” said Donatelli. “They have mastered the techniques we teach and have the equipment in their offices.”

The bottom line is improved performance.

“We are combining sport and science – so there is no guesswork involved,” Donatelli said. “It’s like going to the doctor – he makes the diagnosis, prescribes the right medicine, and it’s a guarantee you’re going to get better. We’re doing the same thing.”