ShareThisYouth is all the rage in golf these days. Anthony Kim, 23, wades in hype as the next great challenger to Tiger Woods. Lorena Ochoa's two biggest threats, according to the women's world rankings, are Yani Tseng (age 20) and Paula Creamer (22). Rory McIlroy, a 19-year-old from Northern Ireland, conquered an elite field to collect his first pro victory Sunday at the Dubai Desert Classic.
Then there's 48-year-old Kenny Perry, cranking out wins against players barely half his age.
Perry's victory at The FBR Open Sunday in Scottsdale, Ariz., served as a vivid reminder of one of the game's chief allures: Physical skill is only part of the equation. Golf requires ample doses of intelligence, poise and course management, which helps explain why players in their late 40s occasionally win on the PGA Tour.
Perry actually has won four of his past 15 starts, dating to June 2008, and those numbers do not include his instrumental role in the U.S. Ryder Cup win in September. He climbed to No. 9 in this week's world rankings, joining Vijay Singh, who soon turns 46, in the top 10.
If Singh is famous for his relentless work ethic, and Perry keeps pace with steady ball striking, the advances in golf clubs and balls also boost older players.
"The technology of the equipment has something to do with it," said Steve Lowery, who, at 47, became the oldest champion in Crosby-turned-AT&T history last year. "For years, guys in their 40s would lose distance against the younger guys."
That doesn't happen quite as often anymore, at least for players such as Singh and Perry. Singh won the first two playoff events last summer to run away with the FedEx Cup title; now, perhaps reflecting his advancing years, he's recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery and hopes to return next week at Pebble Beach.
Two other compelling, middle-aged players to watch: Rocco Mediate, 46, trying to build on his memorable U.S. Open run but now dealing with his own arthroscopic knee surgery, and Paul Goydos, 44, who took Sergio Garcia to a playoff in last year's Players Championship. Goydos, still coping with the recent death of his ex-wife, rejoined the tour this week at the Buick Invitational in San Diego.
TIGER TALK: Woods hasn't played in a tournament in nearly eight months -- true, he won the U.S. Open on one leg -- but his presence still looms large. He launched a media blitz the past two days, posting an update on his Web site, giving an interview to the New York Times and appearing on ESPN's Mike & Mike radio show.
It's probably no coincidence the blitz occurred on the brink of the tour's annual stop at Torrey Pines in San Diego, where Woods won the 2008 Open and has taken six Buick Invitational titles (including the past four). Translated memo to other players: Tiger would squash you this week, too, if he were there.
Woods offered no insight into when he will make his much-anticipated return, though it will happen after his wife, Elin, delivers their second baby (she's due "pretty soon"). He said he's going "full-bore" in practice sessions, with no restrictions, and repeated his mantra about enjoying the newfound stability in his left knee.
AT&T MEMORIES: Lowery doesn't exactly count as one of the game's magnetic personalities, but he will bring some exhilarating memories with him to Pebble Beach next week.
Lowery won last year's AT&T with a spirited Sunday surge, aided by Vijay Singh's late collapse. The victory carried deep significance for Lowery, then 47: He was playing on a medical extension, in the wake of his 2007 wrist injury, and needed to earn money fast to keep his playing privileges.
By winning at Pebble -- he made birdie on the first playoff hole to subdue Singh -- Lowery not only kept his card for the rest of '08, he earned an exemption for the next two years. That takes him through 2010, when he becomes eligible to join the Champions Tour.
"That win was huge," Lowery said. "My back was kind of against the wall."
Lowery, however, had only one more top-10 last season and missed the cut 12 times.
(E-mail Ron Kroichick at rkroichick<at>sfchronicle.com.
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)
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