Faxon joins the fountain of golfing youth

On his 50th birthday Monday, at once the celebration of a numerical milestone and the metaphorical commencement of a golfing renaissance, Brad Faxon did what he's always loved.

He spent time with his family in Chicago.

And then he golfed.

The Museum of Science and Industry trip was for fun, but the Cog Hill practice session was to prepare for the beginning of Faxon's self-dubbed "rebirth of a career." The opportunity to redeem himself, sans regrets, on the horizon in Blaine, he'll join the Champions Tour on Friday at the 3M Championship after tapering off during his final years on the PGA Tour.

"If I play my best golf I think I could compete anywhere, but I haven't done that," said Faxon, only days after missing the cut at the Greenbrier Classic in West Virginia. "Part of me wishes I finished the PGA Tour playing like I know I could play.

"But at the same time I'm 50 years old now, I was playing against guys half my age, getting out-driven by 50 yards."

A legend on the green -- Faxon led the PGA Tour in putting average three times -- the two-time Ryder Cup participant has tallied eight PGA Tour victories but hasn't won since 2005 and missed the cut in all 12 starts this year after battling an ACL tear and foot surgery during the 2000s. Since 2009, he's made only 10 of 48 cuts.

"He'll have fun out here, more than any past experiences," Brooks said. "The most memorable things he's done are some kind of bad drive and then making par somehow. He's got one of the really, really great short games."

And during his news conference Wednesday, Faxon peppered his answers with quotes from both Fuzzy Zoeller -- "It would be great to have a chance to choke" -- and Bernhard Langer. It provided a glimpse into Faxon's ageless mentality entering the 3M.

"I like Bernhard Langer's idea of, 'Look I'm turning 50, this is my place, this is where I'm going to stay,'" Faxon said. "Age is just a state of mind, really."

The relative youngster already has gotten a warm welcome. He said he received more birthday calls, texts and e-mails on Monday than ever before.

"There aren't too many places in the world people are dying to turn 50 other than the Champions Tour," Faxon said. "I didn't play well for a few years now, so I'm very excited about a second chance."

Zoeller and Faxon were tied for the lead in the 1994 British Open at Turnberry heading into the final round. Zoeller ended up in third; Faxon dropped to seventh.

Tway, for his part, beat Faxon in the 2003 Bell Canadian Open on the third playoff hole.

"He's played well for a long, long time and he'll be a great asset to this tour," Tway said. "He's had a great career, and any time you've played well, you can do it again. I don't foresee him having any trouble. He's a good guy and it'll be fun having him out here."

Faxon hasn't ruled out returning to the PGA Tour for some future events, but it seems he's already found a home on the Champions Tour.

Even if it's as the 50-year-old rookie with the golden putter and the shaggy mop.