CHAMPIONS TOUR Jacobsen returns with 64 and lead

It was his first tournament back since hip surgery in April.
EAST MEADOW, N.Y. (AP) -- Peter Jacobsen's smile let everybody know he was back.
Returning to competitive golf for the first time since undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his hip in April, Jacobsen shot a 6-under 64 Friday. He was tied with Jerry Pate and Bobby Wadkins for the first-round lead at the Long Island Classic on the Champions Tour.
"Nothing like a 2-month vacation from golf to build up the juices," Jacobsen said. "Heck, I was excited to play both days this week in the pro-am."
Jacobsen, who turned 50 in March, played in one Champions Tour event and eight on the PGA Tour this year before having the surgery.
"My hip felt great. I have no pain swinging the club," he said. "This was just my third round walking and I was tired the last five, six holes. But I figured the quickest way back into shape was to throw myself right into the fire and walk."
Having fun
Jacobsen, always considered one of the funnier and friendlier players on the PGA Tour, lived up to that reputation throughout the round.
"When you love to play golf, and I love just playing with friends or on the tour, it's very frustrating to watch people play on television," he said. "That's why I am so excited to be back out here."
Jacobsen had seven birdies, five on putts in the 15-to-20 foot range.
"I drove the ball well but I putted fabulously well," he said.
Pate didn't have a bogey in his round at the Red Course at Eisenhower Park, a public venue, while Wadkins had eight birdies and two bogeys.
Thorpe one back
Defending champion Jim Thorpe, who had a second-round 60 last year, opened with a 65 and was one stroke in front of Mike Hill.
Pate has had all three of his top 10 finishes this year over his last four tournaments.
"This was my low score of the year," Pate said. "I guess it was my low score of the last 22 years."
Best score in 22 years
He was right. His last 64 was in the third round of the 1982 Phoenix Open. He won the last of his eight PGA Tour titles, the Tournament Players Championship, that year. Since then he has had four operations on his left shoulder, the last one last year, a "cleaning out" by Dr. James Andrews.
"I call it my 22-year problem or my $20 million joint," he said with a laugh. "It's been 22 years since I've been in contention in a golf tournament. That's a long time ago."
This is Pate's rookie season on the Champions Tour. He turned 50 last September.
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