Associated Press
Thursday, July 6

COLUMBIA, Md. -- Christy O'Connor Jr. will never forget the remarkable three days he experienced at last year's State Farm Senior Classic.

Given a sponsor's exemption, the Irishman led all the way with rounds of 65-66-67. He earned $195,000 and the right to play the Senior Tour for the rest of the season.

But the surprising victory meant much more than money or career opportunity. Coming only 10 months after his 17-year-old son Darren died in an auto accident, the tournament gave O'Connor a much-needed lift.

"It gave me a massive will to go on living and certainly to go on playing golf," he said.

O'Connor hopes to enjoy similar success at this year's event, which begins Friday. Coming off an eighth-place finish at last week's U.S. Senior Open, O'Connor again expects to be a contender at a course perfectly suited for his style of play.

He attributes his success in last year's tournament to familiarity with playing a course featuring rolling hills, tree-lined fairways and well-placed water hazards. Hobbit's Glen offers a little of everything, which is the way he likes it.

"This course forces the pro to be a shotmaker," O'Connor said. "He has to use all 14 clubs in the bag and be a little creative."

That's the type of golf O'Connor grew up playing in Ireland.

"It's a tough but very fair course," he said. "It's a well-rounded course that doesn't benefit strictly the long hitter or the accurate hitter. You have to be able to do it all well to win here, and I think that's what most pros prefer."

O'Connor won three tournaments in a three-month span last season, including the Foremost Insurance Championship in August and the Senior British Open in September. He thinks a return to the scene of past success could help him regain that winning touch.

"I think it's important to feel confident and comfortable at a course, and coming back here could give me that advantage," O'Connor said. "I have a feeling of belonging here. ... Those good feelings can only help one play better."

O'Connor beat eventual Senior Tour money leader Bruce Fleisher by one stroke at last year's Classic. The competition will be similarly challenging this time, as six of this season's top 10 money winners are entered.

Gary Player and Gary McCord are among the popular players in the field of 78 vying for the $202,500 top prize.

Hale Irwin, who won the Senior Open last week, is skipping this tournament because it's sandwiched between two majors -- last week's Senior Open and the Senior Players Championship.

But O'Connor wouldn't miss it, even if it were scheduled in December.

"I love everything about Hobbit's Glen," he said. "The layout and makeup of the course brings me right home."