On the PGA Champions Tour, life begins at 50. For some players, careers relatively untouched by success are blessed with tournament victories and earnings in dramatic contrast to the meagre returns of life at the peak of their abilities.
52-year-old Brad Bryant is the perfect example. The Texan turned professional in 1976, but managed only one PGA tour victory, at the Walt Disney Classic in 1995. Despite finishing in the top 125 for nine consecutive years, he remained a peripheral figure and never threatened to win a major championship.
Bryant became eligible for Champions tour in 2005 and earned $727,438 in his first year. The following season, he won two titles and over $1.5 million in prize money, taking his tour total to $2,419,855 in just two seasons. In a career spanning more than 20 years on the regular tour, he had earned just over $3.5 million.
Last week, Bryant won the Regions Charity Classic in Alabama, marking back-to-back success at the event and annoucing his intensions to make 2007 his best year yet. Arriving at the Senior PGA Championship at Kiawah Island in South Carolina, he reflected on a remarkable career honeymoon.
"In a sense, it's a second chance saloon," said Bryant. "I had one chance on the regular tour and I didn't take it as well as I'd have liked. I'm more motivated than ever now to realise my potential."
Bryant was runner-up to Jay Haas at the 2006 Senior PGA Championship at Oak Tree Club, Oklahoma, and believes he has a realistic chance of winning his first major at this week's event.
"I feel confident if I play well I can challenge at this tournament. I haven't had much of a look at the course, but that shouldn't matter too much. I'm looking forward to the challenge. A major tournament win would be something special."
As the players began their opening round today, conditions at Kiawah were far from ideal. A North-easterly breeze blew across the course, evoking memories of 1991's infamous Ryder Cup at the venue — dubbed "The War by the Shore."
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