An older golfer could take US Open crown

Golfers older than 40 aren't supposed to win the U.S. Open.

Then again, 42-year-old Kenny Perry shouldn't be the hottest golfer on the planet. But he is.

"It's like riding Secretariat," Fred Sanders, Perry's jockey/caddie, said Wednesday. "Anybody can win on this horse right now."

Ben Hogan was 40 when he won the last of his four U.S. Opens in 1953. Jack Nicklaus also was 40 when he won the last of his four titles in 1980. Only seven other golfers over 40 have won the U.S. Open.

But this is the year of the 40-something PGA Tour champion. Scott Hoch (47), Fred Couples (43), Vijay Singh (40) and Perry all have won this season. Perry won on consecutive weeks -- at the Colonial and the Memorial -- before taking last week off to rest for the 103rd U.S. Open beginning today at Olympia Fields Country Club.

"For Kenny, it's all about confidence and chipping and putting," Sanders said. "He hits the ball as well as anybody out here. His confidence is still high. And his chipping and putting look pretty good to me so far this week."

The last time the U.S. Open was played this close to Chicago, Hale Irwin was running around high-fiving half of Illinois. It was 1990 at Medinah, and Irwin was thrilled to become the oldest U.S. Open champion in history at 45 years, 15 days.

The over-40 gang believes Chicago can be magical for their fraternity once again this week.

Hoch doesn't think age matters when it comes to playing championship-caliber golf. Maybe that's because he was 46 when he qualified for the 2002 U.S. Ryder Cup team.

"For awhile, you start to think it's part of your name," Hoch said. "To [the media] it's not Scott Hoch, it's 47-year-old Scott Hoch."

Olympia Fields isn't expected to play nearly as long as Bethpage Black did for last year's U.S. Open. There aren't long carries off the tee and the 496-yard ninth hole is the only par 4 longer than 460 yards.

"It's definitely a very disciplined-style golf course where the greens are going to be severe," said Perry, whose best finish in six U.S. Opens is a tie for 25th. "You can actually hit the ball out of the rough this year, and even get it to the green."

At first, Perry said he, "sees no reason why a 40-year-old can't win" at Olympia Fields. Then he upped the ante.

"Actually," he said, "I think the 40-year-olds have an advantage. We have the knowledge and the experience. We're more relaxed because there's no pressure on us to win. We're not out there grinding where we just have to win the tournament."

Perry hadn't won in two years when he captured the Colonial three weeks ago. He hadn't won twice in one season before winning the following week at the Memorial.

Suddenly, he has a career-high $2,551,171 in the bank before mid-June. His phone is ringing nonstop. ESPN even interrupting his practice session Wednesday for a live interview.

What's going on, Kenny?

"I just think it's a matter of having less pressure to deal with," Perry said. "My oldest daughter [Lesslye] is a sophomore in college. My son [Justin] is a senior in high school. My little girl [Lindsey] is 15 and a sophomore. They've grown up. They're happy, so I'm happy, and I'm able to focus more on golf."

Perry also believes the newest batch of 40-somethings is redefining what people should consider old when it comes to competing at golf's highest level. Players such as Perry and Singh still average 290 yards or more off the tee.

"I think we're all healthier than we've ever been," Perry said. "And we already have the experience. We've all been out here a long time."

About two months ago, Perry switched to a new Taylor Made driver. He has moved to second on the PGA Tour in total driving and 38th in distance (290.8).

Whether Perry, who has never won a major, has the game to keep pace with defending champion Tiger Woods, 27, this week remains to be seen. But he's definitely a fountain of youth to his peers.

That was obvious when Larry Mize, 44, walked up to Perry on the practice range Wednesday and started rubbing Perry's back and shoulders.

"I'm hoping," Mize said, "that whatever it is you got rubs off on me."