Parked on the far end of the TPC Twin Cities driving range Monday morning, Mike Small hit shot after shot mostly uninterrupted. That is until five-time PGA Tour Champions winner Russ Cochran made a point to walk down to Small's hitting area and offer a welcome and a fist bump.
"I know all these guys," Small said. "We've lost touch over the years, but these are my friends from back in the day. It's going to be fun to reminisce."
In golf circles these days Small is best known as the head coach of an Illinois men's golf team that has finished in the nation's top five each of the past four seasons. The Illini lost to eventual champion Oregon in the national match-play semifinals this spring.
But this week at the 3M Championship in Blaine, Small is on the other side of the golf bag. He'll be a player, not a coach. Small received one of five sponsor's exemptions into the tournament.
"I'm very appreciative of this," he said. "I know it's a quality field, and they have to get 100 letters from guys wanting to play. You wish you didn't have to write them but you are appreciative when you get in. And you want to go out there and reciprocate with some good golf."
Small found limited success as a pro. He qualified for three U.S. Opens and eight PGA Championships, but made just three cuts. He had his PGA Tour card in 1998, making eight cuts in 26 events.
Small took over at Illinois two years later and this will be the second event he's played on the Champions Tour since turning 50 in March.
He's also qualified for next week's U.S. Senior Open in Ohio.
