The PGA Champions Tour Toshiba Classic tees off tomorrow morning at Newport Beach Country Club which is just down the street from where veteran golfer John Cook lives. He’s a 9 time winner on the senior circuit after bringing home 11 first place checks on the regular PGA Tour.

John was kind enough to call me this morning to discuss this week’s event along with covering a few current issues in the world of golf like the controversial new ruling of the long putter and it’s soon to be illegal anchoring to the body. And we chatted about his longtime buddy Tiger Woods who’s constant swing changing would ruin most careers but somehow not Tiger’s. Few know Tiger like Cook and it was great to get his insight on what Woods has in front of him to try and catch or surpass Jack Nicklaus’ major wins record of 18.

John Cook with Ted Sobel:

Cookie has an 11:55 Friday tee time with playing partners Bernhard Langer and Rocco Mediate and it would be nice to see him win this thing in his own backyard—almost literally!