Senior Tournament of Champions : Thomson Holds Off Palmer to Win 3rd Title in Five Weeks

As long as the golf ball can’t hear Arnie’s Army support their hero, Peter Thomson said he doesn’t mind being the other half of a twosome with Arnold Palmer.

On the 16th hole in Sunday’s final round of the MONY Tournament of Champions at La Costa, the white ball obviously didn’t know who the people’s choice was.

Palmer’s chip for birdie from 20 feet rimmed the cup and spun out. Seconds later, Thomson’s chip from 25-feet fell gently into the cup.

That birdie gave Thomson a three-stroke lead over Don January and a five-stroke lead over Palmer.

The 55-year old Australian held on for a one-over par 73. He shot a four-under par 284 to capture his third senior PGA tour victory in the past five weeks.

“As senior golf goes, it’s been phenomenal,” said Thomson, who also serves as a golf broadcaster in Australia. “I’m on the slippery-slide down, and ready to go down the hill.”

Somehow the hill is becoming easier and easier for Thomson to climb.

Thomson’s win was worth $30,000 and raised his senior tour-leading total to $110,700.

He won by three strokes over January and Dan Sikes, and five over Palmer.

It was by no means an easy win for Thomson, who led the tournament from wire to wire.

Following a birdie by January and a bogey by Thomson on 14, Thomson found himself tied for the lead with January as he walked up the fairway on 15.

Both players were three under. For the first time all week, it appeared Thomson might not have the momentum.

“At 15, I knew it was time to get serious,” Thomson said. “I knew I had to do something clever. I pulled a couple of shots out of the bag.”

The part of Thomson’s steady game that is most dynamic is his ability to line tee shots into the fairway.

Playing regularly on the long, firm courses in Scotland, the five-time British Open winner became a master at taking advantage of tee shots that bounce once they hit the ground.

However, on Sunday, it was Thomson’s green play that led him to victory.

He sank a 14-foot birdie putt at 15 and a soft chip at 16 to almost force the large gallery following Palmer to cheer him.

“Arnold has a particular kind of following,” Thomson said, “and I don’t mind them. I’ve been through all that for 20 years.

“I know some players have been in tears playing with him, but it’s alright with me . . . As long as the golf ball can’t hear them.”

Sunday, Palmer received cheers from fans partying off the balconies of their duplexes on the 17th hole, and from youngsters who were too young to hold a golf club when Palmer first copyrighted his majestic strut up the fairway.

His wave is still there, as is his solid wood and iron game. But he was done in by iron shots that repeatedly ended in the rough, and by putts that seemed to be allergic to the cup.

“Arnold went off with a bang at first,” Thomson said, “but then he couldn’t get it together. He was unlucky with his putts . . .

“When you win a tournament, half of it depends on what you do, and half on what your opponents do. I’ve done my half.”

Playing so well on the seniors tour has been sweet revenge for Thomson, who won only once during his entire career on the American PGA tour. That was the 1956 Texas International Open. Quite an amazing statistic for a golfer who won five British Opens, three Australian Opens, nine New Zealand Opens and championships of eight other countries.