As was the case in 1996 and ‘97, the former University of Colorado golfer is coming off surgery. Kaye underwent a toe operation in December 2006 and didn’t play on Tour at all last year. And he’s competed on a limited schedule this year, making three cuts in eight events, with his best finish a 44th-place showing at the AT&T Classic in May.
The Denver native has been experiencing foot problems all year, and recently had some shoe inserts made that he will try out at the Colorado Open. Based on how that works out, he’ll figure out his PGA Tour plans for the remainder of this year and early 2009.
“I’m playing it by ear,” Kaye said in a phone interview over the weekend. His next Tour event “could be next year or it could be the Fall Finish,” which starts in September.
Kaye, who is living with his family in Boulder this summer, said he is using the Colorado Open primarily as a test, to see how his feet feel with the new shoe inserts.
“I have no expectations, but obviously I’d like to win,” he said.
Kaye needs to make the most of his Tour events in order to retain the Tour card he’s held on and off since 1995. He’s playing on a major medical extension and has 13 tournaments to earn about $744,000 in order to remain fully exempt. He said it may be an option to carry over those events to next year and start fresh then.
Kaye is one of five former CU golfers to have won the Colorado Open in the last 20 years. The others are John Douma (2007), Scott Petersen (2000), Bill Riddle (1999) and Steve Jones (1988). Jones, of course, went on to win eight times on the PGA Tour, including the 1996 U.S. Open.
Petersen, who has been a regular on the Nationwide Tour and won one Nationwide event, also has entered this year’s Colorado Open.
Another former Buff in this year’s field who has gained some tour acclaim is Australian Kane Webber, who won an Asian Tour event in 2006 and stands eighth on this year’s Asian Tour money list. Webber lives in Castle Rock and finished third at last year’s Colorado Open.
Kaye won’t be the only former PGA Tour regular in this year’s Colorado Open field. Brian Kortan, who played in this year’s U.S. Open, has entered. Kortan has finished second twice and third the last two years at the Colorado Open.
But by far the most recognizable name at Green Valley Ranch next week will be former Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway. He’s back in the field after competing in the event in both 2000 and 2001. He made the cut in 2001, but missed in 2000.
Before the Colorado Open starts, tournament officials will formally announce HealthOne agreeing to a five-year extension of its contract as title sponsor of the Colorado Open, Colorado Women’s Open and the Colorado Senior Open. HealthOne began its title-sponsor run in 2004.
