Simpson settles in

NEWPORT BEACH ? At age 50, Scott Simpson has finally found his niche.

The PGA has always been a grind for the 26-year veteran. No breaks between tournaments, always stressing to make the cut and keep his card.

It is a completely different environment now that Simpson has joined the PGA Champions Tour. 2006 is his first full season after playing four tournaments in 2005.

The San Diego native and University of Southern California graduate, who roomed with fellow Champions Tour pro Craig Stadler in college, feels comfortable here.

“It’s a blast,” Simpson said of the Champions Tour. “It’s much more fun than the regular tour. It’s more relaxed. It’s nice not having to worry about making the cut. You know you’ll be there on Sunday.”

Simpson was not a struggling pro while a member of the PGA Tour. He has seven PGA Tour victories to his credit, including the 1987 U.S. Open. He has earned over $6.7 million in his time on tour.

“I think I like it more than I thought I would,” Simpson said. “This tour is so good because it has breaks. You never play more than four tournaments in a row. You don’t have to schedule your weeks off ahead of time, like on the PGA Tour. It’s fun being with the guys again. I’m thankful there is something like this to move on to.”

It is also a bonus that four of the 29 tournaments are in California and the Wendy’s Three-Tour Challenge is in Nevada.

“It’s always fun to play near home,” Simpson said. “It’s nice to come out here and get into a groove.”

And unlike some golfers, Simpson said, the transition to a completely different schedule was exciting.

“When I came over here I was really looking forward to it,” he said. “I was ready for some new courses and some new cities. For me, part of the real fun was to come to some new courses.”

With the pressure off, Simpson, who said he has “never been that big on setting performance goals,” would like to finish in the top 30 money earners in order to qualify for October’s Charles Schwab Cup Championship in Sonoma and the 2007 Champions Tour.

“It would be a great spot to be in October,” Simpson said. “Any chance you get qualify is good. My main goal is to play well and have a good time.”

Simpson said his skills match up well with the Toshiba Classic course at Newport Beach Country Club. He said the course reminds him of Wilshire Golf Course and Hillcrest Country Club in Los Angeles, both of which he played while at USC.

“My game is pretty good. It should be a course that fits me well,” Simpson said. “It’ll be a fun course. You have to keep it out of the trees. The greens will be tough to read. They tend to break more toward the ocean. I have to drive straight and put well.”

On the Champions Tour, Simpson plans to up his number of entries.

“I’m planning on playing almost every event,” Simpson said. “I’m playing with guys I grew up with, rather than kids my daughter’s age.”

Simpson said he likes the chances of Tom Kite, Hale Irwin and Gil Morgan in the Toshiba Classic.

“The ball strikers are the favorites this week,” Simpson said. “The usual suspects. Tom Kite proved he can make a putt last week [at the AT&T; Classic in Valencia].”DON LEACH / DAILY PILOT(LA)Scott Simpson watches his chip shot on the 14th hole during Wednesday’s first round of the Toshiba Classic Pro-Am at Newport Beach Country Club.dpt.10-toshiba-logo-CPhotoInfoN11P00SL20060316iuebthnc(LA)dpt.16-sportstoshiba-1--CPhotoInfoN11P05K420060316iw75zzknDON LEACH / DAILY PILOT(LA)Scott Simpson watches his chip shot on the 14th hole during Wednesday’s first round of the Toshiba Classic Pro-Am at Newport Beach Country Club.