Alex Aragón says he's superstitious.
The PGA Tour rookie, who will play in the Chrysler Classic of Tucson this week, carries a silver coin with an impression of an angel.
The coin came as a gift from his father, Enrique, an avid golfer who first took Alex to a course when he was about 5.
Aragón, 26, says the coin brings him luck.
"I don't pray much, but I keep it in my pocket every round I play," said the native of México City, who grew up in San Diego.
Aragón, who earned a golf scholarship to Stanford University and graduated in 2001 with an industrial engineering degree, said he is excited about playing in the tournament at Omni Tucson National Golf Resort & Spa.
He played on the course several times as a college student, and began checking out the greens this year on Monday.
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This will be Aragón's fourth tournament this season. He turned pro in 2001 and has earned $34,802, with more than $29,000 coming this year in just one event.
Earlier this year, he missed the cut at the Sony Open in Hawaii and the Buick Invitational in San Diego. He made the cut at the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, and Aragón said he expects to play in about 30 more tournaments.
"I'm more excited now. I never was really nervous. I wondered more if I belonged, but now that I've played, I feel pretty comfortable," Aragón said in a telephone interview last week.
He said the tour has been a good learning experience, watching how Fijian-born Vijay Singh, known as the PGA's $10 million man because of his earnings, hits the ball, plays the game and conducts himself.
In the Chrysler Classic, Aragón said his goal is to get a top-10 finish and place himself in a winning position.
"I just have to shoot 20 under to win the tournament. The pressure is on everyone to play well," Aragón said.
"I like competition. You compete against other people, but you are also competing against yourself. You have to handle your own emotions and your own fears," added Aragón, the only international player of Mexican descent on the tour this year.
Aragón lived in Acapulco, Guerrero, until he was 4, when his family moved to San Diego. His 58-year-old father owns an auto repair shop and his mother, Sandy, 53, is a medical interpreter.
"I have a lot of pride in my heritage and my background. It is always cool to be a representative of where you come from and do well," said Aragón after learning that the tournament attracts fans from Sonora, México. "It is great to have people cheer you on. That is always a good feeling."
About 150,000 spectators are expected to attend the four-day tournament, and fans come from throughout the United States, along with a significant number from Southern Arizona and Sonora, said Tony Ronstadt, tournament chairman.
More than $13.5 million is pumped into the Tucson economy, Ronstadt said.
Notable golfers who will be playing this week include Nick Price, David Duval, Bubba Watson and Jeff Sluman.
"Our tournament is great, because you can come and get up close to the pros and get autographs after they are done playing," said Judy McDermott, tournament director. "You can almost reach out and touch them."
If you go
● What: Chrysler Classic
● Where: Omni Tucson National
● When: Thursday through Sunday
● Tickets: Call 571-0400 or 1-800-882-7660, or go to www.tucson.pgatour.com
