His two PGA Tour career victories and his longevity as a competitive player attest to the talent of Tom Pernice Jr. Like many players, Pernice spent the years after college bouncing around the globe before making it to the Tour, but he doesn’t talk much about that.

In fact, he hardly dwells in the past. For Pernice, the present is what counts — and he certainly isn’t wishing away the two years that stand between him and the Champions Tour. He’s passionate about his game and has earned the reputation as one of the most meticulous workers on the PGA Tour. After hitting balls on the driving range, there are narrow, perfectly spaced parallel strips where he works on his iron game.

And Pernice is just as dedicated to making the Tour experience even more compelling for fans. While most of the golf world revels in the overwhelming success of the FedEx Cup, Pernice is working hard behind the scenes to improve it. He never shies from a tough question. His answer is always well thought out and grounded in facts.

His comments are pointed but never disrespectful. It’s his sense of tact that’s allowed Pernice to criticize everyone from Tiger Woods to the commissioner of the PGA Tour without sounding bitter or strident. I caught up with Pernice at the start of his 2008 season. As always, he had plenty to say about his game — and the state of pro golf.

1. How much tougher is it to win on the PGA Tour than the average golfer might think?
The level of competition around the world continues to get better and better. So the playing field itself is getting more and more difficult. That makes what Tiger has done even more impressive. His dominance over the last several years, while the level of competition increases, is incredible. Every week on tour there is a field of 144 or 156 players, and legitimately 90 percent of those guys are good enough to win each week.

2. How does a guy playing in his forties stay competitive?
I’m forty-eight and I do what I can in terms of physical fitness. I’ve been working out for seven or eight years now. This off-season I’ve stepped it up, trying to gain more strength and flexibility. As you get older you have to work twice as hard just to stay where you were. Also, you have to play to your strengths. For me, it’s important to drive the ball in the fairway and take advantage when I get to hit my wedges. As you lose distance, you have to make up for it in other ways. And you always have to putt well.

3. Do you wish you were already on the Champions Tour?
Not really. I think there’s a lot of good golf ahead of me. If I can keep myself physically fit, I think the opportunities will come and hopefully I’ll be able to take advantage of them.

4. You’ve been critical of some of the game’s best. Has there been any backlash from that?
Yeah, but that comes with the territory. You can’t be critical of someone and not expect them to come back and say something about it. I voice my opinion and it’s just that — my opinion. It’s not necessarily right or wrong, and I respect others’ opinions. Some of the comments I’ve made that were derogatory have been a little misconstrued at various times. But a lot of that turmoil has to do with the PGA Tour staff and specifically [Commissioner] Tim Finchem for not having stricter and stronger regulations so that these things don’t occur where a player looks bad.

5. Would you call the inaugural season of the FedEx Cup a success?
In what it was trying to accomplish and in the overall scheme, yes. It did get the best golfers in the world playing a lot at the end of the year. Obviously, there are some downsides to it in terms of Tiger and Phil skipping events. That casts something of a negative light on what was trying to be accomplished. But it was a good plan to try to help us with our TV partners to end our season before football gets rolling, and to put our Tour Championship on television with a chance for better ratings.

6. Most players keep a low profile. Why do you speak out?
I think it stems from a passion and a love for the game. And I look a bit toward my friend Hal Sutton, who I served with on the Tour Policy Board as a player director. Hal is a passionate man who believes the game is wonderful in many ways. We believe the PGA Tour is the leader in the game of golf.

7. Another player who has been occasionally vocal is your good friend Vijay Singh. You guys play a lot of practice rounds together, where he’s known to dish it out. Do you fire back at him?
Of course, but it’s all in good fun. We’ve known each other a long time. We met before we got to the PGA Tour. We were playing on the Asian Tour and became friends. Then we both got our cards over here and spent time together. We have a very nice relationship as friends. We’re totally different personalities, but sometimes that works. We’re both competitive and work very hard at our games — that’s probably the most cohesive part of our relationship. That and the fact that neither one of us puts up with each other’s crap. We needle each other back and forth.

In public, Vijay is introverted and uncomfortable in certain situations. With me he’s one of the most wonderful guys in the world. In pro-ams he surprises his partners every week. They’re shocked at how much fun they had playing with him.

8. What’s your biggest goal for 2008?
To get back to Augusta. Unfortunately, last year I hit a great shot in the final hole. But it rolled up to the top tier. From there I three-putted, missing a three-and-a-half footer that would have earned me a return invitation. It lipped out. I want to win a tournament and get back to the Mercedes Championship. But Augusta comes first. And I’d like to make the Ryder Cup team next fall.

9. Do you see any young guys who could take the torch and carry the Tour forward?
There’s some great talent out there. Nick Watney looks phenomenal. He has size and a wonderful swing. Brandt Snedeker obviously had a great rookie year. Lucas Glover has a great career ahead of him.

It’s hard to make an impact in your first year or two. There will be someone to come in eventually and take Phil’s spot. Of course, Tiger may be the greatest ever, but eventually someone will replace him. There are too many players that work too hard — and a few are going to reach that top level.

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John Maginnes is a former PGA Tour player. He works as a broadcaster of the Tour for XM radio.