Courtesy: BBC Sport

I see that Nick Faldo has thrown his hat into the ring and is joining the Champions Tour this summer.

Faldo's first foray with the old farts will take place at Muirfield for the Senior Open (Senior British Open for the uninitiated).

The Englishman turns 50 on July 18th and, literally, a week later, he will be teeing it up at the site of his Open titles in 1987 and 1992.

Last week, Seve Ballesteros, also announced he was joining the tour. Two men, aged 50, who have not played competitive golf in quite awhile are facing a steep challenge to get their games turned around. It may, of course, be too late for Seve.

What endears me to the Champions Tour is not that I too am over 50 or that most of the guys I watched on CBS in the early 80s are regulars on the Seniors circuit today but that the Champions Tour has a refreshing spirit about it.

The pros on the Tour have "been there and done it"; they have ridden the adulation to its zenith, slid down the other side and discovered their worlds didn't end.

The older pros on the Champions Tour have a clearer view of life; I would wager it comes from their years of acquired knowledge - it is true that with age comes wisdom.

These are players you can approach at tournaments; they're friendly, willing to take the time to talk to you and treat you like you matter.

Many years ago, I covered the 1977 German Grand Prix at Hockenheim for my radio employers and my media pass granted me unfettered access to the drivers. It was a much different era in Formula One.

Try and approach a Formula One driver today and you won't get past the first layer of security unless you have an appointment.

Try and approach Tiger or Phil and the same thing will happen.

But the Champions Tour is different. The fires of ambition and conquest don't burn as hotly. The house is paid for, the kids have finished college, there's plenty of money in the bank and their health is good, for the most part.

So they relax and learn to enjoy the game again.

And now that Faldo has become a member, the humor level will jump a few notches to be sure.

Faldo was once one of those golfers who radiated intensity, acute focus and at times, a stand-offish tendency that didn't cause golf fans to warm to him particularly.

But the Faldo of today has that element of reflection I alluded to that comes from the years of experience dealing with success and failure. He has mellowed and has allowed his real personality to surface.

Just the kind of character the Champions Tour is looking for. And one more reason more and more of us are watching.