By Andy North
Special to ESPN Golf Online
Thursday, April 27

Editor's note: Two-time U.S. Open champion Andy North is chronicling life on the Senior Tour in a diary for ESPN Golf Online. Since turning 50 in March, North has been a regular on the tour. Last week, he tied for 11th in Las Vegas. This week, he's in the field for the Bruno's Memorial Classic.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- I'm really looking forward to this week at the Bruno's Memorial Classic. The tournament always draws huge galleries, and the community really supports this event. Everywhere you go, people are thanking you for coming to their tournament.

	Andy North's season
	Tournament	Scores	Finish	Earnings
	Legends of Golf	59-66-66--191 (25-under)	1	$161,000
	Tradition	71-72-67-74--284 (4-under)	T-6	$60,800
	PGA Seniors' Championship	73-75-73--221 (5-over)	T-46	$4,720
	Las Vegas Classic	70-74-64--208 (8-under)	T-11	$28,840

This tournament is really above and beyond the others when it comes to feeling welcome.

I'm also excited about my game right now. Last week in Las Vegas, I was really pleased with most of the week. It was the first event I've played where I've been happy with all aspects of my game.

I shot a 65 in the pro-am, then opened with a 70 on Friday. I had a few putts that didn't go in early, but overall I played a pretty solid round. My 74 on Saturday wasn't as sharp. I three-putted a couple of holes, but overall it wasn't that bad.

On Sunday, I put together the best parts of the entire week and shot a 64, which matched the best round of the tournament.

Overall, the biggest thing with Las Vegas was the weather was fantastic. Larry Nelson won the tournament with an amazing 19-under 197, shattering the tournament record.

We talk about it a lot, but it's simply amazing sometimes how well an awful lot of our players are playing. The quality of play is exceptional on the Senior Tour. To finish 19-under after three rounds, I don't care who is playing, that is quite a feat.

People often try to compare the Senior Tour with the regular tour, but it's really not possible. It's a completely different game that the younger guys are playing. That's not bad or good, just different. They play a more power-based game and are more aggressive. Our guys play a more controlled game, hitting different types of shots that you don't see on the regular tour.

Some of it has to do with conditions, some with equipment, some with the all-exempt tour. We play our way because it's what we've known for the past 20-30 years. The '90s player has become very powerful and aggressive. Some of them have never even swung a wooden club.

I'm encouraged that my body seems to be doing pretty well. I didn't know what to expect after a career filled with injuries. I just hope it can stay. It's hard to compete at the level you need to when you feel great, let alone when you've missed half a year and are rehabing.

That's not an excuse; that's just the way it was for me in my younger years.

This week, Greystone Golf Club is going to play pretty long at close to 7,000 yards, with five par-3s and five par-5s. The key here is if it doesn't rain, it will be nice. We don't need it soft.

If it stays dry and a little bit of wind kicks in, one key will be how hard the greens get. And when it blows, there are lots of big trees here, so sometimes it's hard to figure direction.

This will be my second 54-hole tournament, which takes a little adjusting. Last week in Las Vegas wasn't too bad. Without a cut, you don't have to panic if you get off to a bad start. At the same time, the first round is important to get off to a fast start. With just three rounds, you can't shoot a 73 on Friday and expect to win.