KAUPULEHU-KONA, Hawaii » A lot of the Champions Tour talk centers on rookies Corey Pavin and Fred Couples making their debuts on the senior circuit this week, but the real story line at today's $1.8 million Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai is Bernhard Langer.

The defending champion at this winners-only tournament, the 52-year native of Germany will try to become the first golfer to win player of the year three consecutive times. Only three other golfers have been back-to-back recipients of the award named after Jack Nicklaus: Jim Colbert (1995-96), Hale Irwin (1997-98) and Jay Haas (2006-07).

Irwin and Lee Trevino are the only seniors to win it three times in their careers, putting Langer in rarefied company if he manages another title in 2010. He also collected his second consecutive Byron Nelson Award for lowest scoring average (68.92) and his second straight Arnold Palmer Award for being the leading money winner ($2.14 million).

But it won't be easy for Langer, who now resides in Florida, to maintain his torrid pace of eight wins and 31 top 10s in 45 events. While he has produced fast starts in each of his first two full years on tour, he tends to tail off as the season progresses.

Enter Loren Roberts, one of only three past champions in the field this week. The 2006 champion here—who set the tournament record with a 25-under 191—won two of the last three events of 2009 and captured the Charles Schwab Cup. It is the second time he pocketed the $1 million annuity.

He edged John Cook by 319 points and will try to become the only player to win the Schwab Cup three times and the first to win the season-long points event back-to-back. No wonder the 54-year-old had a smile on his face at the end of yesterday's pro-am round.

“;This is a special place, a great place to start the year,”; Roberts said. “;To come here my first year and shoot 61 and win the tournament on Sunday. It doesn't get any better than that, especially when you birdie the last hole to win.

“;I'm really rounding into form and like the way I'm swinging at it. I'm obviously trying to get used to some new loft clubs (with the new grooves). I feel good about stuff, I just haven't decided which clubs I'm going to use. Hey, it's all about the putter (on this course). Unless it's a hurricane around here you're going to hit a lot of greens. And have a lot of birdie putts, which makes me feel good.”;

Equally excited about being here are Pavin and Couples, who exited the practice tee prior to his pro-am round by shouting, “;It's great to be back with the boys.”;

Pavin plans to play in 18 events on the Champions Tour and six on the PGA Tour to keep in touch with his Ryder Cup captain responsibilities. He and Couples are here on sponsor's exemptions in this elite 36-man field and are enthused about the opportunity to tour the pristine Jack Nicklaus-designed course.

“;It's a different tour and it's been really fun the few days already,”; Pavin said. “;I've seen people I haven't seen for a long time. I've enjoyed it already and I know once the tournament starts, I'm going to enjoy it even more.”;

Also in the field this week is 64-year-old Hale Irwin. He is the third past winner here in the opening event on the Champions Tour with Roberts and Langer being the others. Irwin and Langer are also two of the seven members here who are in the World Golf Hall of Fame. The other five are Ben Crenshaw, Gary Player, Nick Price, Curtis Strange and Tom Watson.