Lehman, 52, has been playing on both the PGA and Champions tours. He will be making his first appearance at the annual 3M tournament. Jacobsen was asked about the value of playing at home and having a supportive gallery.
“There’s a positive and a negative when that happens,” Jacobsen said. “The negative is you have all the expectations of people expecting you to win because you’re the favorite, you’re the hometown hero. You’ve played here your whole life. ..You’ve been on the PGA Tour a long time. That expectation can weigh on you.
“But on the positive side, that expectation can also prop you up. There’s an extra amount of energy that you gain. A little bit of adrenaline comes into your body when you’re playing at home. I don’t know what it is but when you tee it up at your favorite event, or your favorite course, or a tournament you’ve won, or your hometown, there’s a little bit more zing in your game…and maybe it sharpens your focus a bit.”
Lehman is young enough to perform effectively on the Champions Tour. So, too, are Couples at 51 and Langer, 53.
Jacobsen said players in their 50’s usually have an advantage over those in their 60s. “I think when you get to be close to your 50th birthday, I think things start to slow down for you,” he said. “I think more than anything, injury takes its toll on players over 50.”
Jacobsen, 57, has had knee and hip replacements. He’s having back surgery in November but plans to play again in 2012.
As for his own prospects in the 3M tournament, Jacobsen said he doesn’t have a “sense” for how he will play. No doubt he would be thrilled to be in the company of the leaders on Sunday.