Trojan conquest

John Jacobs lists USC as his college in the Champions Tour media guide.

He didn't graduate, however.

"I went out for spring football practice at USC, but it bored me," said Jacobs, who grew up in Whittier and whose father was the director of parks and recreation for the city of Los Angeles and a drinking buddy of then-Trojans football coach John McKay. "I went to school for about three days and dropped out."

So Jacobs joined the Army, figuring he'd have to do a stint in the military anyway. He spent a tour in Vietnam.

"I just wanted to play golf," said Jacobs while chomping on his ever-present cigar.

Jacobs played on the PGA Tour from 1968-80, with three runner-up finishes. His greatest success has come on the Champions Tour, with five victories and more than $8 million in earnings.

Because of injuries, the past couple of seasons have been difficult for Jacobs, who turns 62 Sunday. He said he has had a half-dozen Magnetic Resonance Imaging exams on his back in the past three years, which failed to find the problem. He recently went to an osteopath, who diagnosed a rib injury.

Since receiving treatment for the rib injury, Jacobs' game has improved markedly. He tied for ninth at last week's Toshiba Classic in Newport Beach - his first top-10 finish since 2005 - and fired a 5-under 67 in Friday's opening round of the AT&T Champions Classic at Valencia Country Club, including a 30 on the back nine.

"I'm fired up for the first time in three years," Jacobs said.