Pernice passionate about his career, family and TOUR pals

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Tom Pernice Jr. will turn 50 on September 5 but will be able to play on the PGA TOUR next season.

Tom Pernice Jr. likes to talk.

Off the course, that trait has gained him some notoriety as one of the TOUR's most outspoken players. On the course, however, it has helped him win two tournaments.

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Tom Pernice (left) won his second TOUR event while paired with pal Vijay Singh.

The Basics

NAME: Thomas Charles Pernice Jr. HT: 5-10 WT: 170 BIRTHDATE: September 5, 1959 BIRTHPLACE: Kansas City, Mo. RESIDENCE: Murrieta, Calif. TURNED PRO: 1983 TOUR WINS: 2

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Click here to watch Pernice capture his first title.

When he won the Buick Open in 1999, he was paired with his pal Joey Sindelar. He and Sindelar both like to chat during a round, and Pernice said that helped him win his first TOUR event.

"Joey and I are great friends. Joey likes to talk. That's the best thing for me, that I can just keep my mind away from the game a little bit, just kind of socialize like I'm playing in the pro ams on Wednesday, get my numbers, get my clubs and go play," Pernice said, who said he'll talk to the walking scorers or marshals if he's paired with a quiet player. "I seem to do the best."

During the final round before his second win at the INTERNATIONAL in 2001, Pernice was paired with one of his best friends on TOUR -- Vijay Singh. Pernice only recorded one point on Sunday in the Modified Stableford format, but it was enough for him to earn victory No. 2 and eclipse the $1 million mark for the first time in a season.

"(Vijay)'s one of the greatest guys. He's been great to me. We play practice rounds together, work out together in the gym at night. He's just been extremely nice. It's a comfortable atmosphere being out there with one of your best friends," Pernice said.

So Pernice will likely find that he fits right in on the Champions Tour, where the golfers come to play golf but also come to play and have fun. In fact, Pernice said that his dream threesome in golf would include two Champions Tour members.

"My ideal pairing would be Peter Jacobsen and Joey Sindelar if I could have it every week," he said, referring to two of the Tour's most talkative characters.

Pernice also likes to talk about the TOUR. Never one to shy away from sharing his ideas, Pernice famously voiced his opinion on the FedExCup and Tiger Woods at THE TOUR Championship in 2006. Still, he also cares passionately about his craft and the sport as a whole, and served on the TOUR's 16-man players advisory council and also the Policy Board from 2002-03.

He's one of the TOUR's journeyman, and he's especially thankful for the opportunity to compete on the top tour in the world. Pernice spent time playing around the world and on the Nationwide Tour after failing to keep his PGA TOUR card the first time around in 1986. Once he regained his card in 1998, Pernice has only finished outside the top-125 on the money list once.

He ended up 80th on the money list this past season and held the 54-hole lead at the AT&T National before winding up tied for ninth. That was one of six top-10s Pernice had in 2008.

As much as Pernice likes to talk and is passionate about the TOUR, there's something that matters to him more. His family, which includes his wife Sydney and daughters Kristen and Brooke, is extremely special to the devout Catholic. Brooke, 13, has a genetic disease, Leber's Amorosis, which causes blindness. Despite her handicap, Brooke released a Christian and Country music CD in 2007 called "Help from Above".

Brooke and her caring older sister have had an impact on Pernice and his career. They were there for an emotional celebration when he captured his second title at the INTERNATIONAL. Though they don't travel as much with him now, Pernice enjoys watching Kristen do gymnastics and Brooke sing in front of huge groups of people.

"She's so unbelievably motivated and spiritual and unbelievable faith in what she's doing. We feel like it's a blessing," Pernice said. "She's just an unbelievable person and tons of faith, and luckily enough, her older sister makes sure and watches out for her and nothing ever happens to her."