It?s been a year of highs – and even bigger highs ? for R. W. Eaks.
Eaks, a veteran of 99 events on the Champions Tour, is experiencing a run of unprecedented success this season. Last month, he won his second tournament of the year, the Greater Hickory Classic. He fired a 63 on the first day to put himself in the lead and maintained the advantage throughout the weekend, finishing at 17-under par for the tournament in Conover, N.C.
A low round, however, is nothing new to Eaks, who is averaging fewer than 71 strokes per round this season.
“I have had to re-do my goals four times this season,” Eaks, who is fourth on the Champions Tour money list with $1.496 million this year, said. “It?s been very nice this year. I am always working on another goal and hopefully, I can surpass one of my new ones.”
But Eaks? next goal is his biggest: Win his first career major at the Constellation Energy Senior Players Championship at the Baltimore Country Club East Course this weekend. It?s a realistic one, too, as the 55-year-old is playing the best golf of his entire career. He has been consistent all season, but Eaks? stellar play began in mid-July when he picked up his first Champions Tour victory at the Dicks Sporting Goods Open in Endicott, N.Y., firing a 17-under par for the three-round tournament.
And he hasn?t cooled off.
On the season, he has four second-place finishes, a third-place finish, 11 top 10s and 14 top 25s to go with his pair of victories.
“The thing that helped me out this year was not resting before the tour started,” Eaks said. “I usually take three months off, and this time I practiced and played. I am on Cloud Nine, I don?t think I am going to get tired.”
Eaks said his ability to drive the ball off the tee is the strongest club part of his game entering the tournament. He is the third-best player on tour in driving distance, but is ranked 74th in driving accuracy. Statistically, Eaks? short game has been his biggest strength, ranking fourth in putting average, sixth in birdie average and first in average eagles.
“I?ve learned a lot from the other guys on tour in the last four years,” Eaks said. “I?m trying to emulate what they do instead of what I used to do.”
