COLORADO SPRINGS — R.W. Eaks, who eventually may need two knee replacements, isn’t wearing braces when he’s playing but puts on high-tech braces when he retires for the evening.
The braces emit electrical impulses. The Colorado Springs native wears them while sleeping.
“I’ve had so many injuries when I was in high school and college that I think the scar tissue and the arthritis has just got the best of me,” said Eaks, a three-time winner on the Champions Tour.
He wants to play four or five more years and plans to put off surgery as long as possible and even avoid it if he can.
Eaks’ knee problems may be traced to thousands of hours playing basketball. He was an all-state player at Mitchell High School before becoming a 1,000-point scorer in his University of Northern Colorado career.
Still knocking it around.
Castle Rock resident Dale Douglass, the 1986 U.S. Senior Open champion, is the oldest player in this year’s field, at age 72. He’s playing in his 23rd consecutive Senior Open, two behind the record held by Arnold Palmer.
“There’s some of his other records that I would have preferred to challenge,” Douglass said with a chuckle.
Stick to golf.
Jay Haas, the Champions Tour’s leading money winner in 2006 and 2007, pulled a hamstring in a rather embarrassing way — while playing touch football a few weeks ago on the morning of his daughter’s wedding in Greenville, S.C. The soreness prevented Haas from playing the past two senior events.
“I was actually the receiver (on the play),” Haas said. “As soon as I did it, I knew I’d really screwed it up. It’s not 100 percent, but I feel like I’m certainly capable of playing well (this week).”
Brotherly love.
Dave Delich has his brother, Chuck, as his caddie this week. They have played together for 40 years and know the importance of this week’s event. But Dave said Chuck has a more important family event after the final round.
“He’s got a much tougher week next week,” Delich said. “My oldest sister is getting a kidney transplant and Chuck’s the donor, so he’s got a tough week in front of him. This will be easy for him.”
