Kenny Perry will shake hands with some of his oldest buddies on the Champions Tour this week at Hualalai on the Big Island and then take his turn with the youngsters of the PGA for most of the year.
The 54-year-old will make a farewell tour of sorts, opting for his one-time top-25 money exemption for full tour status. He will play in at least 12 PGA events and maybe as many as 15 with new clubs in his bag and old sponsors to thank.
"This is tremendous to get to play with the kids," Perry said of his four days in the Sony Open in Hawaii. "I took my top-25 all-time money, so I’m actually going to play a little bit on the regular tour this year. I won’t play as much on the Champions Tour as I’ve been playing the last couple of years.
"It’s kind of a way for me to say goodbye to all the sponsors and to tell them thank you. This is my 30th year out here and I never lost my card. I’ve been able to play out here for a long time, so I’ve got a lot of things to be thankful for."
Perry had four rounds in the 60s this week, sealing the deal with a 6-foot birdie at the last to shoot 69 on Sunday for a 72-hole total of 273, good enough for a tie for 37th.
He’s under no illusions that he will be the favorite in any PGA events in 2015, but if the stars align just right, maybe he can become the oldest winner in the history of the tour. His 14th and last tour victory was in 2009 and he has a nice little thing going on the senior circuit with seven victories.
But if you’re going to make one last stand, might as well do it now while you can still strike it well enough to hang with the children. Perry secured his tour card in 1986. When he looked around at the 144 players in the field this week he saw a lot more fresh faces than grizzled veterans.
Perry never won a major on the PGA, something he rectified somewhat with two majors on the Champions Tour side of the fairway. His first victory was at Jack’s palace in 1991 at the Memorial Tournament. He would do it again at Nicklaus’ place in 2008, the next-to-last time he would hoist a tour trophy.
Perry used this week to shake off some of the rust he accumulated at his home in Kentucky. He got a few practice rounds in with his new Callaway clubs in Scottsdale, Ariz., and was pleased with how he played this week.
"I don’t always play that well in Hawaii, but I’ve always enjoyed coming out here," Perry said. "I always have through the years. I’m not sure what it is, maybe the Bermuda grass, whatever. But I played better this week. I shot 7 under and that’s OK for an old guy, so I’m happy."
What makes it even more fun is the chance to give back to the youngsters and reacquaint himself with his contemporaries. Perry was paired with Stuart Appleby and Luke Donald in Sunday’s final round, but it’s the young up-and-comers he’s more excited about.
"These young kids like to come up and pick my brain a little bit," Perry said. "It makes me feel good. I don’t have a lot to offer them golf-wise anymore, but I can tell them places to stay, where to go, and how to get around. Just stuff you take for granted. I can kind of impart some of my wisdom on them."
He’s looking forward to the Mitsubishi Electric Championship that he will play this weekend. He could tee it up in as many as seven senior circuit tournaments in 2015.
"This is definitely a good tune-up for me to play next week at Kona," Perry said, "especially coming out of Kentucky — we’ve got bad weather. Just to get out here and walk and get your legs back under you and enjoy the beautiful weather here, it’s just phenomenal.
"My stretch run early will be mostly on the PGA, I will go to Phoenix, Pebble Beach, Los Angeles, Honda, Tampa and Bay Hill before coming up for air. I’m very fortunate, I know that. It’s a great way to start the year."
