A few decades ago, Rod Spittle and John Cook were teammates at Ohio State. Spittle graduated in business administration in 1978 and worked in corporate health insurance. Cook won $19 million playing golf.

Both tee off today in the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai, which opens the 2011 Champions Tour season.

"We went different paths. I watched him play golf like everybody has the last 25 years or so," Spittle says of the 1992 United Airlines Hawaiian Open winner. "It’s kind of cool we can hook up again at this time of our lives. You just can’t make this stuff up, that’s for sure."

Everything about Spittle being on the Big Island this week is kind of cool. He is the current poster boy for all that is possible on the senior circuit.

Born in Canada and settled in Columbus, Ohio, after graduation, he "put a shirt and tie on" and raised three children with his wife. At 49, with the kids married and a grandchild soon to come, Spittle turned pro.

The two-time Canadian Amateur champion’s corporate career allowed him to continue in competitive amateur golf and his health was good. The Spittles set their game plan in motion.

For three years (2007, ’08 and ’10), Spittle earned status as a Monday qualifier, missing out in 2009 on a playoff. On a tour that only advances five fully exempt golfers annually from its qualifying school, it was a major accomplishment.

He Monday-qualified for 31 events, viewing it as a way to figure out what the Champions Tour was all about while walking inside the ropes with his idols.

Spittle collected four top-10s, the last coming at the final full-field event of 2010, when he won the AT&T Championship in a playoff. Spittle is the 11th qualifier to win in tour history and first since 2004.

He is fully exempt this year and eligible to play at Hualalai — the seniors’ Tournament of Champions — this year and next.

"I’m flattered to be in that company," Spittle, 55, says. "On the short list of guys good enough and crazy enough to think they can play at 50."

His status simplifies his life. He can make travel plans in advance now and so can his wife. He plans to play all 25 official events and now knows when he can rest. Ironically, the simplicity comes at a time when his life "is a whole lot more exciting."

The goal is to replace Bernhard Langer at the top of the money list and "continue to raise the bar — I expect to win."

Again.

"It was very exciting to win in October," Spittle says, then pauses. "That’s an understatement. Now I get to come to Hawaii and start the year here and in 2012, fully exempt for this year. It’s more than I could ever have imagined."

"Once in a while I pinch myself when I’m walking down the fairway with somebody like David Frost. It’s pretty cool. I’ve been welcomed on this tour and it’s extremely gratifying. To be on this side of the ropes is really cool. These are great gentlemen and to play with them is an honor."