By Alex Miceli

Hutchinson, Kan. - Bruce Lietzke had a very good PGA Tour career by most standards, winning 13 times in his 27-year career, but it could have been more if he had spent more time playing golf in his prime.

Lietzke, 54, played in 31 events in 1976, his second year on tour; it would be the most events he would play in one year in his career. 

As his career progressed, he would compete in less events. Including the year he won three times in 1981, Lietzke played in only 24 events. By the time he reached 1990 he never exceeded 19 events.

"My last 12 to 14 years on the PGA Tour I was just looking ahead because I had reduced my schedule, I didn't want to play a full-time tour schedule," said Lietzke after his 1-under 69 round Thursday. "My kids were in school and so I reduced my schedule down to almost nothing, knowing that when I turned 50 both my kids were almost ready to head out to college and I could go back and play as much as I wanted every damn week."

Lietzke joined the Champion's Tour in July of 2001, playing in only 10 events because of his late start. But he made an immediate impact, winning twice. He won the 2003 Senior Open. Since then he has consistently played in 20 or more events and is comfortable with that number. However, he tries to play in two consecutive events and take a break. But with three senior majors on the horizon, tucked closely together, he had to change his schedule slightly, having played in Kansas City last week.

"I'm going to go play Ford Senior Players," he said. "I'm right in the middle of one of my few three weeks swings.  Not sure if I'll have another one the rest of the year."

Born in Kansas City and growing up in Wichita until age 9, Lietzke played Prairie Dunes many times. He'd try to make the trek to Hutchinson once a year to play in the Sand Hills when he lived in Oklahoma, that changing when he moved to Dallas in 1988. He hadn't been back to Prairie Dunes since 1991.

So like every one else, Lietzke had to do his homework during practice rounds. That's when he got re-acquainted with the intricacies of Perry Maxwell's design.

"I've got a whole bunch of notes in my yardage book that I try to imagine," said Lietzke. "I got things written down - where to miss the ball, knowing where the holes going to be or guessing where it's going to be, knowing I don't want to miss it there.  They don't have many choices because the greens are so small."

Lietzke is most likely on the back nine of his senior career, with the Senior Open his only major victory. Of course, he would like to win again, but the setup this week doesn't favor his game.  He feels pinned in with the tight conditions.

"If I'm in the fairway, I've got a good chance at hitting a decent iron shot," he said.  "And I just need to make a few more putts. I hit good putts today, and the ones outside of 4 feet, I just didn't make … But if I can put it in the fairway, then I feel like I can shoot a good score. I did for the most part today."

Alex Miceli is a freelance writer whose work has appeared previously on www.ussenioropen.com.