Franklin Templeton Shootout: O'Meara really cooking after team's 64

His partner John Cook joined in.

After a long year, O'Meara and Cook finally have something to get excited about. The two are hoping that a good finish today in the final round of the Franklin Templeton Shootout will make up for what's been a pretty tough year

"At least we got ourselves in position that we have a chance to do something tomorrow," said O'Meara about his team's 8-under 64.

Neither had many chances to win tournaments this year.

O'Meara's best finish was a tie for eighth at the Masters. He finished No. 143 on the money list. He's worst showing since joining the tour in 1998.

Cook didn't do any better. Shoulder surgery kept him on the couch and off the course for the last six months.

Both agreed, the best remedy might be playing together this week.

O'Meara and Cook are quite familiar with each other. They grew up in Southern California together and played in the same junior golf program. O'Meara even beat Cook to win the U.S. Amateur in 1979.

But that hasn't stopped them from being friends and neighbors. Now, they live just blocks away from each other in Windermere - near Orlando.

And this isn't the first team event they played together. In 2000, they captured the Fred Meyer Challenge. Their familiarity with each other has helped cure their lack of confidence.

"Certainly we have played well together and won events so that helps your confidence," O'Meara said.

Thanks to the time off Cook feels like a new man.

While the recovery was painstaking, he said the surgery has added years to his career.

"I am refreshed," Cook said. "This was a difficult year for me to miss. I won in '01. I had a nice year last year finishing 35th on the money. Then my shoulder deteriorated. It was tough to watch this year. I missed playing."

O'Meara is impressed how fast Cook was able to bounce back.

"I'll tell you what I have played with John a long time and I watched when he is playing well and right now he's playing as well as he has been playing in years," O'Meara said. "I would say his confidence is pretty good right now for a guy who hasn't played in six months."

O'Meara, the 1998 Player of the Year, has been so desperate to turn things to turn things around that he has grown a goatee and gone to a belly putter.

"With the belly putter he looks like Mark O'Meara of old," Cook said.

O'Meara quickly interupted him by saying, "I'm not raving in confidence lets just say that. It's somewhat acceptable now. It's a tough thing when your confidence is off just a little bit."