As it turns out, the bag belongs to his oldest son, Ryan, who pitched in when a bag manufacturer couldn’t make delivery in time
for Cochran’s first Champions Tour outing. Only in the accessory department, it seems. Cochran, a Kentucky native, made his debut with a 5-under-par 67 Friday, tied for fourth behind coleaders Jerry Pate and Bernhard Langer. ”It was just good to be playing,” he said. In some ways it’s easier because you’re not trying to do anything special. Just make a solid swing, and don’t get too crazy on the greens.” Cochran also was helped by other facets of the short game. He chipped in for birdie from 50 feet at No. 17, then birdied the par-5 18th with a bunker blast that stopped six inches from the cup. He was alone in front at 6-under coming to his final hole at No. 9, but his drive landed under the lip of a bunker, and he couldn’t save par from six feet out. ”It was different for me,” said Cochran, who had played only two PGA Tour events since 2004. Ryan Cochran, by the way, played at UF from 2002 to ’06. Younger brother Reed also was a Gator and is serving as his dad’s caddie this week.
BACK IN THE HUNT