Former major champs Hamilton and Micheel trying to find their games

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IRVING, Texas -- Four years ago, they were faces you recognized, names you knew.

Todd Hamilton was the champion golfer of the year; winner of the Open Championship. The former OU golfer and star on the Japanese Tour who beat Ernie Els in a playoff at Royal Troon.

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Todd Hamilton had two wins in 2004, including the Open Championship.

And Shaun Micheel? He was the one you kept confusing with Chad Campbell -- who had on the dark cap again? -- in the final round of the 2003 PGA Championship at Oak Hill until he hit that 7-iron to 2 inches at the 72nd hole.

Friday afternoon at the EDS Byron Nelson Championship, they went almost unnoticed. Almost, only because Hamilton is a local -- he lives in Westlake, just northwest of DFW Airport.

Both of them are closing in on the end of their five-year exemptions for winning their respective majors -- Micheel's is up this year; Hamilton's in 2009 -- and both are struggling to find their games. Neither has won since etching their names in history.

Hamilton, who's searching for consistency with his iron game, heads into the weekend in touch with the leaders at 1 under. Micheel, who has battled a shoulder injury, made the cut with his 2-over total despite finishing double-bogey, bogey on Friday for a 74.

"You hear the phrase a lot -- let the game come to you -- and it's true,'' Hamilton said. "I had a stretch in Japan where I played terribly for four years or so. Then all of a sudden, out of the blue, I won four times in 20 events.

"There was nothing that would have showed that was coming. Only thing you might have picked up on was I had a different driver with a new shaft and I started hitting it well. And then everything clicked.''

Right now, you take your victories in small things. On Friday, it was saves. Hamilton made a number of key up-and-downs in his even-par 70 and that was enough to bring out a slight smile.

"I had chip shots close, or I made a good putt,'' he said. "I did a lot of things good today.''

Plus, this was his fifth cut of the season after he made only nine in all of 2007 with his best finish at tie for 63rd at the Turning Stone Resort Championship. So, things are looking up.

"I don't think I've been playing all that poorly, I just haven't gotten anything out of my golf,'' said Hamilton, who tied for 25th at the FBR Open earlier this year. "I've been driving it well for a while now, but I've really struggled with my irons and when you're not hitting irons well, it puts pressure on your short game.

"And then if you do happen to hit a good iron in there, there's pressure to make the putt because you're not going to get that many chances. There's a lot of heat on your putting too. What's ironic is, as a kid, even first years out here, I always played well when I was driving it well and everything's turned around.

"I haven't been able to take advantage of that."

Micheel, meanwhile, has solved his problem with lethargy that was diagnosed as low testosterone. His testosterone replacement, which has been approved by the TOUR under the Therapeutic Use Exemption for 2008 only, has helped his energy and moods, but he's also struggled with a left shoulder problem for eight months.

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Shaun Micheel secured his win at the 2003 PGA Championship with an incredible approach on the final hole.

"My shoulder was snapping,'' he said. "Me and (Chris) DiMarco (have the) same problem. I'd get to the top of my swing and there were serious issues and pain.''

He's worked with the therapists in the TOUR fitness trailer and he's on his way back. After three top-10 finishes in 2007, he's tied for 21st at the Puerto Rico Open presented by Banco Popular and shared 26th at the Shell Houston Open.

And, here? Micheel opened with a 68 and his second-round 74 could have been -- at worst -- a 71 if he hadn't run into trouble at the end.

"It wasn't the swing,'' he said. "I'm able to swing. My finish today was just because it's a tough golf course.''

Micheel is coming off back-to-back top-20 finishes at the EDS Byron Nelson Championship -- ties for 13th in 2006 and 19th last year -- while Hamilton shared 18th in 2005. But the renovated TPC Four Seasons layout has taken the advantage away from the veterans.

"The big changes are the greens with all the undulations," Hamilton said. "Although no one knows that because they didn't let you out here until Monday. So we've all had only a few days to learn these greens.''

Hamilton has struggled to find a set of irons to complement his solid driving. Last year he even used a set he picked up when he was playing in Japan in 1992.

"I've tried 8-10 sets of irons just to get something hitting good shots,'' he said. "Usually if I don't hit something well first day, I'm not going to like it.''

Both Hamilton and Micheel say they're not putting any pressure on themselves concerning their exemptions. They just need to avoid mistakes.

"I think it's a matter of not trying so hard,'' Hamilton said. " ... Some people just take longer to figure it out.''

Major or no major.