A couple of days ago, I was able to interview Kenny Perry.  We touched on a number of topics like the loss at Augusta, his success in the last two seasons, and what his goals are for the future.

Related: Listen to the audio of this interview by clicking here.

Ryan Ballengee:  I wanted to talk to you about using eyeglasses for the first time at the Chevron World Challenge.  I myself use Transitions lenses like you're using because I had significant eye problems three years ago that make my eyes sensitive to sunlight.  I wanted to know what made you make the move to Transitions and how do you think they will help your game?

Kenny Perry:  Well, first off, I've won in glasses before.  I've worn glasses since about the third grade.  I won the Bob Hope in Ray-Bans, then I had Lasik done twice.  I had it done once about ten years ago, then I had an enhancement done.  Then I had to wear a Lasik contact lens.  I have astigmatism real bad so it's hard in the center and soft on the outside.  SO I was having to deal with that all of the time with the contacts and I just got tired of it.  So I went with a company that I thought had the experience and the ability  to be able to fix my eyes, without having the pain, and the frustration, and the aggravation of contacts.

So I went to Dr. Lambert, we got me spome great Transitions lenses.  And my vision was great.  I've worn glasses all my life so it's really not that big of an adjustment to have glasses on my face.  Most people are used to seeing me without - you know, wearing contacts.  I've been playing golf at home with them all the time.  When I'm at home, people don't see me, but I wear glasses when I play golf there.  I was excited.  My vision was good, everything was great.  So I'm looking forward to next year.

RB:  Speaking of next year, what are your major goals for next year?  Obviously you want to make an effort at the Masters, where you came so close this year.  You won twice this year.  You have five wins in the last two seasons.  What comes next for you?

KP:  Great question, what does come next?  ::Laughter:: You know, it's been a great run.  And somehow I'm going to have to refocus.  I'm going to have to sit down around Christmas.  I'm going to have to set some goals and stick to it.  I don't mean to be lazy or lackadaisical or whatever.  I need to put something down on paper.  I really need to think about it.  And then I need to get out there and fire at it again.

You know, I turn fifty next year.  You'll see me play on the regular tour most of the time but I'll play a few Champions events.  I've got five more years' exemptions on the regular tour, so I can play 'til I'm 55 on the PGA Tour.  And, so, what you'll see me doing is playing both tours a bit though I'll primarily focus on the PGA Tour.

I'd still like to get to twenty wins.  I've got fourteen right now, so I have to win six more times in the next five years.  If I keep up how I was doing the last two years, then that's very doable.  So, that's a goal.

Yes, I would love to somehow get a major on my resume.  I've come close twice - lost in two playoffs at the PGA and the Masters.  So, you know what, if my health stays well and I stay physically fit, then I don't see why I can't accomplish those goals.

RB:  There was some mention at the Presidents Cup about you talking about scaling back your schedule next season.  Do you still feel that's the way you'll go and how does that affect the number of tournaments that you'll play?

KP:  Well, I'm a very competitive person.  If I scale back and see that me scaling back is going to cause a fall in my game, then I may change my thinking about that and get back to playing week in, week out like I've always done for the past 24 years.  But I don't want to overdo it either.  I've got to understand my physical capabilities and what my body will let me do - you know, the energy level.  I've got to stay sharp mentally, so it's a great question.  How am I going to approach it?  How many tournaments am I going to play?  I've kind of got my schedule set for what I normally play - my normal events - and if it's going good then we'll stick to it.  If I fall off and struggle a little bit, then I might play more tournaments to get me playing sharp.

A lot of times, I need a lot of reps, a lot of rounds, to get me ready mentally and physically to compete each week.  It's hard for me to go home for two or three weeks and come back really sharp.  When I play well, I usually play two, three, four weeks in a row.  And then by the end of that time I'm playing pretty good golf.

I'm just not sure.  There are a lot of ways I can approach it.  I just don't know.  We'll sit and talk about it during the off season.

RB:  You obviously had a difficult year personally.  And our condolences to you for that.  Does that impact your decision about which tournaments you play in at all or does it make you think differently about how you play events as a guy who's on the road 25 weeks per year?

KP: It could.  My dad's health is real poor.  He just turned 86 so if he starts not feeling well, you may see me spend more time at home.  I have three kids and my kids are grown and gone.  It's just me and my wife Sandy, and we travel together, so that's another question.  We'll just have to see how it comes.  My wife's mom just is 80 years old and she's doing very poorly.  If she has to start staying home for her, then I might start staying home, too.  We're at a stage in life - we've gotten old.  Our lives have changed.  Things have changed.  We'll approach my schedule as it comes.

RB: How has been having your wife out on the road with you all of these years traveling with you?  What does it mean to you as a professional golfer but also in your relationship with your wife?

KP:  Well, it's great.  We got married in '82, so what is that?  27 years now.  I tell that I've only known her half the time cause she was at home raising the kids while I was playing golf.  It's been great having her out here and to get to experience it and travel.  She loves to travel.

We've been having a blast.  That's why I think the last two years have been so good for me.  Having her with me, we've just had a lot of fun.  The pressure of golf is not there like it used to be when I was young, and the kids were young, and financially we were struggling.  All of that is doing great.  These last few years have just been awesome from a mental standpoint.  We've been able to really enjoy all the work we put into it.  Like I said, smell the roses along the way.  I've laid the groundwork and now we're able to get out there and enjoy what we've done.  That's been a big bonus.  That's also probably why I've played so well the past couple of years.

RB:  A couple of other questions for you - both of them about the majors.  First, the British Open.  I'm sure you know that the Road Hole will be lengthened some 35 yards for the Open next year.  When we talked to Tom Watson about a month ago, he said he was all in favor of the change.  How do you feel about that and are you looking forward to St. Andrew's next year?

KP:  Yeah, definitely.  That's one of my favorite course over there.  I love playing there.  I think I've played two Opens there.  You know, the location is great - the little town there is awesome.  It's just so neat - you stay in the Old Course Hotel right on the course.  So you can walk right out of your room, onto the course.  It's just a neat experience.  Links golf is so different.  It's so windy.  You play golf on the ground.  It's so different than America.  For one week out of the year, it's such a treat.  The fans are great.  They really understand golf.  It's really great to go over there and be a part of it.

RB:  One last question for you.  I have to ask it because of what happened at the Masters.  Is there any part of you that wishes that the ball that Angel Cabrera hit off of that tree went off in another direction or do you put it on yourself about what happened at Augusta?

KP: ::Chuckling:: You know, I've never wished that on anybody.  The loss was actually - I've enjoyed it.  When I lost the PGA, it stuck with me for a couple of years.  When I lost the Masters, it didn't stick a lot with me because I won not too long after it at the Hartfort - the Travelers.  You know, that's golf.  I had my chance to win.  You know, I was two up with two to play and I just didn't get the job done.  I got out of my element, got out of my thinking there - the way I prepared all week.  Next thing you know, hitting fairways and greens didn't happen.  It's funny.  On the last two holes, I got a little nervous and a little ahead of myself.  I didn't win.

But I had a lot of cards and letters and people who wrote me.  I had probably had a thousand emails and letters.  I had a lot of support.  That made me feel good that people were paying attention and they were proud of how I handled my post-round interviews.  That meant a lot to me. 

You know, I came out a winner even though I was a loser.