Tucker gets another crack at U.S. Senior Open

Charlotte's Chris Tucker didn't expect to qualify for the U.S. Senior Open this year.

He'd never played TPC Sugarloaf, site of his sectional qualifying round, but it didn't matter. Tucker shot 70 to lead the field and earn a spot in the U.S. Senior Open which begins Thursday at Crooked Stick near Indianapolis.

"I had no expectations," Tucker said.

Now that he's in the field, Tucker does have some expectations. He's not putting himself among the favorites but the former PGA Tour player has some positive vibes going at the place where John Daly introduced himself to the world.

"I have a good feeling because Opens are better for me," said the 51-year old Tucker. "Most of the time par is a decent score. I'm driving it better than I did last year (when he missed the Senior Open cut by a stroke)."

Tucker has no status on the Champions Tour though he intends to make another run at qualifying for the tour later this year. He's stayed busy playing Carolinas PGA section events and has received sponsorship help from John Love of Red Rocks, NASCAR driver/owner Michael Waltrip and former driver Phil Parsons.