NOTEBOOK: PERRY: THIS YEAR, BEST OF CAREER, 'WAS OVERDUE'.

Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer

THOUSAND OAKS - Kenny Perry has golf all figured out - nearly two decades later.

Perry was on top of his game this season as he had eight top-10 finishes, including three tournament victories. He won $4.4 million and is expected to contend for the Target World Challenge title.

He shot a 1-under-par 71 to remain one stroke behind Davis Love III after the first round. No matter how this tournament ends for Perry, it hardly will detract from his bliss the rest of the season.

``I'm ecstatic,'' Perry said. ``It's by far the best year I've ever had. It's miles ahead of anything. I would have to say that my win in '91 was huge, because it told me that I could win on the tour. This year, after being out here for 17 years, all of a sudden it got easy for me. It just, kind of, fell into place.

``People have asked why this year, and I keep saying that I guess I was overdue. I feel pretty much comfortable on the golf course.''

Except for the windy conditions Thursday.

``It kind of neutralizes everybody,'' Perry said. ``You really had to hit the ball solid off the tee. It was just a struggle out there.''

--Bird's-eye view: Jim Crooker, one of Sherwood Country Club's newest members, didn't even have to walk outside the back door of his house to have a nice view of the fourth hole. But he did.

``It's great fun to see some of these guys,'' said Crooker, 77. ``I've played with a lot of these guys in pro-ams. I've played in 45 straight pro-ams in the (Bob) Hope Classic. That does make me feel old.''

Crooker and Sherwood member Joe Miskinnis live about ``a wedge shot apart.'' They got a kick out of watching Tiger Woods and one of his pro-am partners, musician Kenny G, on Wednesday.

``When (Kenny G) first started playing here, he couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with a tennis ball,'' Miskinnis said. ``Now, he's really perfected his game. I don't know who was giving more tips to who, Tiger or Kenny G.''

--Golf now a getaway? Justin Leonard was discussing the lengthy tour season and other issues when he added he wouldn't mind seeing Tiger Woods, who recently was engaged to Elin Nordegren, play more often.

``I'll talk to him. We need to get him to play half (of the PGA tournaments),'' Leonard said. ``Now that he's getting hitched, he'll want to play more.''

--News and notes: Woods didn't win a major this year but he did win five tournament titles and still - not surprisingly - draws the largest gallery. He'll be paired in the final group today, as he was Thursday, and his gallery is expected to balloon over the weekend. ... Par-3s tripped up plenty of golfers Thursday, most notably Nos. 8 and 15. Seven of the 16 golfers bogeyed the 186-yard No. 15 and three made double-bogeys. Only Perry birdied the 232-yard eighth hole that featured five bogeys and two double bogeys.

CAPTION(S):

2 boxes

Box:

(1) THURSDAYS' RESULTS

(2) TODAY'S PAIRINGS