Jacobsen regains health

NEWPORT BEACH — Peter Jacobsen had reason to celebrate Thursday. The Portland, Ore., native turned 56 on the eve of the Toshiba Classic, the Champions Tour event that begins today at Newport Beach Country Club.

Win the three-round tournament for golfers 50 and older and Jacobsen would have another reason to celebrate.

Jacobsen walked to the practice green, holding the hand of 2-year-old grandson Jake Biery, with Jonas Biery, Jacobsen’s son-in-law, nearby. Jacobsen then started chipping.

Jacobsen said he feels good. And this comes from a guy who has had his share of surgeries (13 in eight years, including procedures on his right knee, hip and lower back), the seven-time PGA Tour winner said. In 2005 he had two surgeries on his right knee and had replacement surgery performed on the same knee in 2008.

“I played every sport known to man growing up, and [the right knee] wore out,” said Jacobsen, who makes his fourth Toshiba start today after missing last year’s tournament. Jacobsen, a two-time winner on the Champions Tour (both major championships) missed the first five months last year following surgery to repair a torn left rotator cuff.

With the injuries comes awareness of taking care of yourself, Jacobsen said. He has lost weight, gone to the gym and rides his bike. But he combines the activity with time off his feet, too.

Jacobsen’s best finish at Toshiba, a tie for fifth place in 2007, came just more than a week following micro surgery in his lower back. His second-round 64 tied his career-low score on the Champions Tour.

“[The NBCC course] is a throwback to the golf I played in Portland,” Jacobsen said. “You’ve got to hit straight shots and the greens are tricky. You have to keep the ball below the hole.

“The type of player that puts the ball in play and manages the game around the greens is going to win.”

Jacobsen is in elite company. He, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer are the only three golfers whose first two Champions Tour victories were majors.

Jacobsen claimed the U.S. Senior Open in 2004 and the Ford Senior Players Championship in 2005. Palmer and Nicklaus combined for 25 major championships on the PGA Tour.

This will be Jacobsen’s fourth Champions Tour event this year. His best finish, a tie for 17th, came at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai in January. Tom Watson edged Fred Couples – both players are in this weekend’s field – by one stroke.

“You have to work hard and be consistent to win. It’s a three-to-four step process,” Jacobsen said.

Step one, in official tournament form, begins today.