Interview: Catching up with Steve Lowery

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Steve Lowery, pictured Pebble Beach, considers his 2008 win there as one of his greatest moments.

Steve Lowery, a two-time Southeastern Conference Player of the Year at Alabama, first joined the PGA TOUR in 1987, earning his card at the National Qualifying Tournament. He eventually endured a five-year stint on the Nationwide Tour that included a playoff victory at the 1992 Tulsa Open, before returning to the PGA TOUR on a full-time basis in 1993. Lowery went on to win three tournaments on the PGA TOUR, all in playoffs, and had his best year on the circuit in 2002. Lowery turned 50 on Oct. 12 and will make his Champions Tour debut at next week's Administaff Small Business Classic. Champions Tour media official Phil Stambaugh recently caught up with Lowery and asked him a wide range of questions.

PGA TOUR: Your thoughts on joining the Champions Tour next week?

Lowery: I'm really looking forward to the Champions Tour. I remember when I was a rookie on the PGA TOUR in 1988. It's been awhile since I've been a rookie and I'm looking forward to that again. I've enjoyed my time on the PGA TOUR but lots of my friends are now on the Champions Tour and it will be great to see them. I also think I'll be more competitive on a weekly basis playing on the Champions Tour.

PGA TOUR: Have you talked to anyone in particular about the Champions Tour?

LOWERY: Mark Calcavecchia has been giving me lots of positive feedback about the Champions Tour. My wife, Heather, and his wife, Brenda, are good friends and he has really enjoyed it in the short time he's been out there. People know I'm turning 50 so I've been getting lots of comments from players and caddies lately.

PGA TOUR: You are an Alabama alum. Who's your favorite all-time Crimson Tide football player?

LOWERY: They've had some great quarterbacks and great players in general over the years but only one Heisman Trophy winner. I'd probably give the nod to Mark Ingram.

PGA TOUR: What's your favorite food?

LOWERY: Sushi. I'm trying to trim down to get ready for the Champions Tour.

PGA TOUR: When you were on the PGA TOUR, you once shot 60 in the final round of the 1997 Buick Challenge at Callaway Gardens in Georgia. What do you remember most about that round?

LOWERY: I just remember being in the right frame of mind for that round. When I teed off, I was pretty far back in the standings and had been frustrated because I had not been playing very aggressively that week. I completely changed my mindset for that round. After making several birdies to start, I also had two eagles on the front nine. My caddie mentioned to me at the turn that it didn't mean anything unless I backed it up on the back nine. I promptly birdied Nos. 11, 12 and 13 and finished birdie-birdie to shoot 12-under.

PGA TOUR: At what age did your first break 70?

LOWERY: 13

PGA TOUR: Do you mark your ball with anything special?

LOWERY: I use a ball marker from Pebble Beach because that's where I won my last tournament.

PGA TOUR: Who is your favorite golfer of all time?

LOWERY: I'd have to say Jack Nicklaus. I followed his career the most when I was growing up. Arnold Palmer was a little too old when I was a kid but Jack, as well as Johnny Miller and Tom Watson, were THE guys on the PGA TOUR.

PGA TOUR: What's your favorite golf course?

LOWERY: I've got a few of them. Pebble Beach is probably my favorite course, but I also enjoyed Castle Pines in Colorado because I had success there.

PGA TOUR: You'll debut next week at The Tournament Course at The Woodlands. What do you remember about that course when it hosted the Shell Houston Open?

LOWERY: It's a solid golf course. I remember that with the Bermuda rough, you have to drive the ball well there. It's a tight course and you also have to be precise with your irons, especially those last few holes.

PGA TOUR: What is the one course you haven't ever played that you'd like to play?

LOWERY: Probably Pine Valley. I've heard great things about it.

PGA TOUR: Do you have any hidden talent?

LOWERY: I enjoy fishing if you consider that a talent.

PGA TOUR: What's the best advice you've ever gotten?

LOWERY: As Bear Bryant used to say, "Dance with who you brung." You should play with what you've got and don't change much.

PGA TOUR: What's on your iPod now?

LOWERY: It depends on the mood but I like listening to Rob Thomas.

PGA TOUR: What's your biggest fear?

LOWERY: The fear of failure is what drives most people to succeed and that's probably motivated me as well.

PGA TOUR: Anything stand out about your wins on either the PGA TOUR or Nationwide Tour?

LOWERY: All of them came in playoffs. Beating Vijay Singh at Pebble Beach in 2008 was pretty special. He's a member of the Hall of Fame and to do it at the 18th hole there in the AT&T event stands out in my career.

PGA TOUR: What's your favorite golf tip?

LOWERY Focus on your target.

PGA TOUR: Do you have a Favorite movie?

LOWERY: Of the ones I've seen recently, I liked "The Blind Side."