By Steve Pajak -
Bob Niger is a professional golfer again. It's the latest step in his decades-long odyssey to become a touring pro on the Champions Tour.Niger relinquished his amateur status in January, earned fully exempt privileges on the Canadian Tour in a March qualifying tournament and has been competing on the Golden State mini-tour in Southern California.
He's missed the cut in two Canadian Tour events. The best check he's earned in six Golden State tournaments is just shy of $3,000 for a third-place finish.
The Northern California Golf Association Player of the Year in 2005 and 2006 is finding his return to the pro ranks as tough as he expected.
"You can't get away with anything out here. I knew that from the times I played the mini-tours as a kid," he said. "I won a lot of amateur tournaments without playing my best golf."Niger, a 48-year-old El Dorado Hills resident, turned pro for the first time at 24. Three mostly unsuccessful years later, he abandoned the quest. He regained his amateur status at 30 – the same time he made the 50-and-over tour his goal.
The travel demands as a pro are as tough as the competition. He will end a monthlong run in Southern California this week, take two weeks off, then head to Canada for two four-week stints separated by a week break.
Niger, almost as famous for his penchant to change swing coaches as for his rigorous practice ethic, is working with Jim Flick. Flick has been Jack Nicklaus' coach since 1990.
"The reality is, I don't think anyone who wants to get better, me or Tiger Woods, can stay with someone for more than a couple of years," Niger said.
Plateaus with even the best coaches are inevitable, he said. So he takes the nuggets and moves on. The fun thing about working with Flick, 78 and a nationally renowned teacher for 50 years, is his breadth of experience working with the game's best players.
"He'll say this is what Jack said about it. Or (Ben) Hogan said that or (Paul) Runyon did it that way, too. Seve (Ballesteros), too. You realize how well-rounded he is."
A strained left wrist that curtailed his play for much of 2007 isn't 100 percent, he said, but it's more of a nuisance than a problem.
Bob Niger VIA NCGA 2006
Hometown: El Dorado Hills; Home Club: Serrano CC
Born: 3-11-60; Profession: Wholesale Distributor of Window Film
Career Accomplishments: In 2006, won NCGA Master Division Championship at Spyglass Hill, Valley Amateur, State Fair as well as nine other titles leading to his second straight NCGA Player of the Year honor...was NCGA Player of the Year in 2005 after capturing the Stroke Play Championship as well as the Sacramento City and Wine Country Open. Also was a member of the California State Team at the USGA State Team Championship… In 2004, won the inaugural NCGA Valley Amateur along with the Yolo and Amador County Amateur championships...Was the top amateur finisher at the Nor Cal Open in 2003. Also won the Lake Shastina and Modesto City Amateurs and advanced to the round of 16 at the CGA (State) Amateur at Pebble Beach… In 2002, captured the Lake Shastina and San Joaquin Amateurs as well as finishing runner-up at the Scratch Players Mid-Amateur and Sacramento City... Won the 2001 Yolo County and the 2000 Davis City championships… In 1999, won the Manteca City, San Joaquin County and Sacramento Regional Four-Ball titles and was runner-up at the NCGA Amateur… Won the 1998 NCGA Sacramento Valley Championship, his second career win in that event (also won in 1982)… In ’98, won the North State Amateur and the Memorial Amateur… Was low qualifier for the USGA Mid-Amateur at Santa Rosa GC in ’98 and for the U.S. Amateur in ’97... Was part of a two-man team representing the NCGA that traveled to Lima, Peru, in 1996. Also in 1996, won the Roseville City and was a semifinalist in the NCGA Amateur… Won the Manteca City in 1984 and 1995 and the Lake Shastina Amateur in 1990 and 1995… In 1985, won the North State Amateur and the Hayward City… Has been a member of three Seaver Cup teams, nine NCGA-NCPGA Cup teams, three North/South teams, and one Morse Cup team.
LIVERMORE, CALIFORNIA (January 8, 2006) -- On his ride home from the course, odds are Bob Niger was thinking about his drive into the hazard on No. 18, or his two three-putts on hole Nos. 1 and 5. Never mind the six stroke margin of victory or the three straight birdies that were sandwiched between his front nine three putts. Niger, the 2005 NCGA Stroke Play Champion from El Dorado Hills, is a hard working perfectionist who sets goals for his game and puts in the hours to achieve them.
At the start of Sunday's final round of the amateurgolf.com Livermore Valley Championship, Niger found himself tied with high schooler Austin Hurt of Bainbridge Island, Washington after the two players shot 1-over-par 73's on Saturday over a rain-toughened Course at Wente Vineyards. The first round average score? Well over 80.
Niger's three straight early birdies against Hurt's three bogey start made him the clearcut leader of the final group, which was rounded out by Jerry Ledzinski of Carmel and Jon Dechambeau of Fresno -- neither of which could get anything going early. But Niger knew there was a lot of golf left.
"I knew I was in good shape," said Niger. "But I didn't get too caught up with the numbers. I just knew that if I kept playing well I would be in good shape."
Niger continued his excellent ball striking through the 9th, up the crooked cart path mountain drive known as "Lombard Street," and around the tricky stretch of early holes on the back nine until a lone bogey on the par-5 15th and the 8-stroke-lead double bogey at 18 (in other words, one that won't hurt a thing) caused his final round total to wind up at 73 instead of the 70 or 71 it might have been. You can't argue with a 6-stroke victory, especially in difficult conditions, and Niger was very pleased with the start to his season.
