By Andy North
Special to ESPN Golf Online
Friday, August 25

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. He has played 15 tournaments, winning the unofficial Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf with Jim Colbert and standing 52nd on the money list.

This time last year, when you think about doing this again, you think you're mentally prepared to do it. But you don't realize how hard it is to play at this level after not playing competitively for such a long time.

	Andy North's Senior season
	Event	Finish	Score	Earnings
	*Legends of Golf	1	-25	$161,000
	Tradition	T6	-4	$60,800
	PGA Seniors	T46	+5	$4,720
	Las Vegas	T11	-8	$28,840
	Bruno's Memorial	T6	-9	$42,120
	Home Depot	T19	-3	$15,377
	BellSouth	T51	-1	$3,664
	SBC Open	T45	+8	$5,180
	Cadillac NFL	T29	-1	$8,910
	U.S. Senior Open	Cut	+9	--
	Senior Players	T52	+7	$5,566
	Long Island	T51	Even	$4,050
	Burnet Classic	T31	-4	$11,280
	Canada Seniors	T9	-7	$39,150
	Utah Showdown	T21	-6	$16,095
	Total			$245,752
				*=Unofficial event

I'm typical of a lot of the guys who come out here and think they can play well enough to succeed. That hasn't always been the case. Some weeks I've played well, but the consistency I haven't been very good at.

The last time I played a full season of golf was probably 1985. I'm still going to play seven or eight more, so I'll end up playing about 22 tournaments this year.

It's been a hectic year, and next year is when I really hope to make an impact. I think a lot of players do much better during their second year, but there's still hope for this season.

Over the next two weeks, I want to get into the top eight in the reshuffle, which will make me exempt for the rest of the year. That's the short-term goal. For the big picture, I'd obviously like to win a tournament or get into the top 31 and get exempt for next year.

Right now, I just have to work day to day. I need to keep playing halfway decent and can't afford any careless bogeys. At 52nd on the money list, I need to make as much as I can every week.

This season, I started out pretty well, struggled for about five or six weeks, then got back on the right track the past couple of weeks. That's the nature of the game. When you least expect it, you play well.

Professionals have the same frustrations with this game that regular guys have. That's what makes it the hardest game to play, and that's what makes what Tiger is doing that much more extraordinary. I don't think people have any idea how extraordinary the things he's doing really are.

And in his own way, a guy like Bruce Fleisher is doing it on our tour.

Because of my TV work, I understood how well these guys play and the quality of play out here. I knew how well I would have to play. That's different than a lot of guys out here. Every week, somebody shoots 14-, 15- 16-under, and that's great playing no matter what course you're on.

Putting has been my strength this year. It hasn't been super, but I've made a bunch of putts -- a bunch of key putts.

I made a shaft change in my driver recently and am starting to drive a little better. As I started playing more and strengthening my golf muscles, the shaft got too soft and I didn't have a good feel. I'm trusting the new shaft and driving better.

On the whole, it's been great to compete again, fun to get nervous on Sunday, fun to travel with my wife again and try to beat guys you haven't had the chance to beat for 10 years. We all love to get nervous when it means something, and that has been the best part.