But Nicklaus says it's been so long since he played here that he won't have much of an edge over the rest of the field when the Kinko's Classic of Austin starts Friday.

This year's inaugural Kinkos Classic is being held at the Nicklaus-designed Hills Country Club.

Still, he's looking forward to matching current wits and shots with the ideas he had when he designed the course nestled in the Texas Hill Country.

"It's kind of fun to see what your thoughts were 20-something years ago vs. today," said Nicklaus, who hasn't played here since the mid-1980s. "But, it's not an advantage. There's about 20 guys in this field who've played this golf course a heck of a lot more than I have," he said.

He also thinks he did a pretty good job designing the par-72 course that will play at 7,030 yards.

"The (Champions Tour) doesn't play as many good golf courses as the regular TOUR plays, but we're starting to play more," he said. "So, when you get a good course, obviously I'm partial, you get guys supporting it."

The Kinko's Classic, one of six new events on the Champions Tour, is making its first stop in Austin. The Tour and Texas' capital city have a long history. Austin is considered the birthplace of the Champions Tour concept when, in 1978, the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf tournament was played at Onion Creek Country Club.

And the new tournament has drawn most of the Tour's best players and biggest names, including Hale Irwin, Gary Player, Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer . It's also a home stop for locals Tom Kite, Ben Crenshaw, Terry Dill and Tom Jenkins, last week's winner of the Bruno's Memorial Classic.

Irwin said the field should expect a strong showing from the locals.

"For most of us, it will be a new course," Irwin said. " Tom Kite is always a contender. And what better place for Ben Crenshaw to break through than right here in Austin?

"Of course, we're talking about second place," Irwin joked.