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 John Cook is one of Southern California’s most accomplished golfers. Though the 52-year-old was born in Ohio and became an amateur sensation at Ohio State, he grew up in the Los Angeles area and now spends a significant portion of the year residing in Corona del Mar. After winning 11 times on the PGA Tour and making an appearance for the United States in the 1993 Ryder Cup, Cook has successfully transitioned to the Champions Tour, where he’s won four times and finished inside the top five in the Charles Schwab Cup standings in each of his two full seasons. Cook is expected to compete in the Champions Tour’s Toshiba Classic at Newport Beach Country Club early next month. He is a threat to win every time he tees it up thanks to a breadth of competitive experience and a strong all-around game. You’ve asserted yourself as one of the top players on the Champions Tour. To what do you attribute your success? I have worked very hard on my conditioning as well as my health. If you don’t break down, your window of opportunity can stay open for a long time. My game has progressed because of the work I have put in and also continuing to play a competitive schedule. Are there certain aspects of your game you’ve had to adjust or focus on more since joining the Champions Tour? The only difference that I can see between course setups on the PGA and Champions tours is the green speed. They’re a little slower on the Champions Tour, and it has taken some time to adjust. Your brain and your body are used to certain speeds. From a physical standpoint, has turning 50 prompted any significant differences in your lifestyle? As I mentioned, I have become committed to my health, with careful watch from my trainer, Justin Frandson, and my therapist, Dr. Tim Brown. My team of experts has prolonged my career. Do you have any recommendations to amateur golfers over 50 on how they can play better golf? You must take care of your body. Stretching and lengthening your muscles is the key. What do you enjoy most about the Champions Tour? Is it how you envisioned it would be? Getting paired with players of my generation — players I used to battle against — has been a blast. The Champions Tour is far more competitive than I thought it would be. It will keep getting stronger. What are your goals for 2010? To improve in certain areas and stay competitive. I want to give myself chances to win. You grew up in the L.A. area. Are you disappointed the tournament at Valencia Country Club is off the 2010 schedule as of right now? I am certainly disappointed that the stop at Valencia is off the schedule. It’s a great course I played a number of times as a kid. We did lose a couple of events from 2008, but we have a net gain of two events for 2010. That illustrates the confidence the business world has in the Champions Tour.  Is there anything you think could be done on the Champions Tour — and professional golf as a whole — to generate more interest and better combat the difficult economic conditions?We just need to keep doing our thing. The Champions Tour is a fan- and sponsor-friendly environment that is cost effective. How much time do you spend in Southern California? Any courses you make it a point to play or practice at while you’re here? I play and reside in Orlando, Fla., for about seven months. The rest of the time is spent in Corona del Mar. I practice at Virginia Country Club with [PGA instructor] Jamie Mulligan, play at El Niguel and Big Canyon country clubs and hit the desert at Madison Club in La Quinta. How much have you helped your son, Jason, on his road to being a professional golfer? Do you feel his game takes after yours? I can answer his questions about playing competitive golf. Jamie is his coach, too. I have always told him to play the game because he loves it, not because he is my son. He is very strong and hits tour-quality shots, and I think his game is becoming more like mine. Ohio State won the Rose Bowl this year. Were you there? Oh yeah. We had 20 tickets, and I rented a big custom bus. It wasn’t easy getting up at 5:30 in the morning on New Year’s Day, but everyone rose to the occasion and we represented the Ohio State University very well. What’s one thing people may not know about you? They now know that I am a sick Ohio State fan! Which golfer do you enjoy watching most on the PGA Tour? I am very lucky to have spent a lot of time with Tiger Woods. I still believe he is the most underrated and underappreciated athlete ever. What’s the best golf tip you’ve ever received? Ken Venturi, my mentor from 14 years old, told me to practice my golf swing on the range and play golf on the course. A Closer Look at John Cook Born: October 2, 1957, in Toledo, Ohio. Vitals: 1978 U.S. Amateur champion, 11-time PGA Tour winner, four-time Champions Tour winner, member of 1993 U.S. Ryder Cup team, more than $16 million in earnings. Did you know: Cook’s son, Jason, was on the men’s golf team at Pepperdine and is now playing professionally. If he wasn’t a golfer: “I think I would have gotten in to auto racing.” Favorite music: Rock, particularly Van Halen, Eric Clapton, No Doubt, The Offspring and 311. Says Cook, “Not many 52-year-olds have these bands on their playlists.” |
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