After a strong final day at the Shaw Charity Classic in Calgary two weeks ago, Victoria鈥檚 Jim Rutledge has high hopes heading into his hometown event, the Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship starting Friday.
Having competed in just two PGA Tour Champions events this season after missing out on earning his full playing privileges last December, Rutledge could carry on to the Pebble Beach stop next week if he finishes in the top 10.
鈥淚t would be a good one to go to, that鈥檚 for sure,鈥� he said of next week鈥檚 stop, but he knows the challenge will be great. 鈥淚t is tough [a top-10 placing], but that鈥檚 the nature of the beast and it鈥檚 not getting any easier.
鈥淚 just want to to play well here,鈥� added the former full-time member of the PGA Tour Champions circuit. 鈥淚t鈥檚 another golf tournament. It鈥檚 nice to be in your own bed and eat your own food at home, but everyone will be taken care of very well here, I鈥檓 sure.鈥�
He does not have plans to attempt to qualify for Pebble Beach on the Tuesday should he not place top 10 here, due mainly to time constraints and costs.
鈥淲e end Sunday here and Monday would be travel before teeing it up on Tuesday, so I鈥檒l just concentrate on the tour [qualifying] school at the end of November and I鈥檒l see what happens.鈥�
In Calgary, Rutledge opened with a 2-over 72, before following it up with rounds of 69 and 66 on the weekend to earn $9,870 for a tie of 40th place. His only other PGA Tour Champions appearance in 2017 was at the Allianz Championship in Florida, where he had rounds of 80-69-65 to finish tied for 62nd and earn $2,537.50.
鈥淚 was middle of the field in Calgary and I progressively got better each day. It was much better,鈥� he said of his performance. 鈥淚 hadn鈥檛 been playing a lot of events.鈥�
Rutledge won the PGA Senior Championship of sa国际传媒 last month (the fifth time he has claimed that event) and also won at the Cowichan Open.
鈥淚 hadn鈥檛 played that in 37 years so that was fun to see Normie [Jackson, the head pro] and all the boys up there. I played a few around here, like the Cedar Hill [Open], keeping my nose in it,鈥� said Rutledge.
As for Bear Mountain, he will have his following.
鈥淗e鈥檚 likable and I鈥檓 sure he will have a bunch of people watching,鈥� said Bear Mountain director of golf Jordan Ray.
鈥淕uaranteed,鈥� Rutledge said with a chuckle. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e already asking for tickets and that鈥檚 OK. I鈥檒l get as many as I can.鈥�
CHIP SHOTS: Rutledge is one of three Canadians in the field of 78 along with Stephen Ames and Rod Spittle ... There are three pro-ams, one today at 8:45 a.m. and two Thursday at 7:45 a.m. and 1:45 p.m. ... Miguel Angel Jimenez, who was a big hit here last year, is not back this season, having played in a European Tour event last week. Four of the top five players in the 2016 Charles Schwab Cup standings are here 鈥� Bernhard Langer, Colin Montgomerie, Scott McCarron and Joe Durant. The field also includes eight players totalling 14 wins in 2017 with Langer and McCarron with four apiece; Ames, John Daly, Carlos Franco, Jerry Kelly, Tom Lehman and Montgomerie had one each.
