Elder Finding These Stakes More to His Liking

Playing for a winning purse of a mere $30,000 can make the clubs feel lighter, the grass look greener and the air smell sweeter.

Just ask Lee Elder, who shot a three-under-par 69 Wednesday to take a one-stroke lead over Miller Barber after the first round of the MONY Tournament of Champions senior division.

Elder was discussing the relaxing spas at La Costa when the conversation switched to his latest adventure with high finances.

He shook his head.

“When one putt costs you $235,000,” Elder said, “that’s a little ridiculous.”

Elder was referring to the eight-foot putt he left short on the second playoff hole of the Mazda Champions in Montego Bay, Jamaica Dec. 21. That missed putt was the difference between Elder earning $15,000 for second place or having a shot at the $250,000 first prize.

“I guess I found my choking point,” said Elder, who won three sudden-death playoffs last year. “Putting for that much money was a feeling that I never had before.”

The Mazda Champions paired the top 12 finishers on the Seniors tour in 1985 with the top 12 finishers on the LPGA tour. The winning pair split $500,000; the second-place team divided $30,000.

Elder, who finished second on the tour with $307,795 and four victories, played with Pat Bradley. They were tied for the lead at 15-under after regulation. On the second playoff hole, Elder needed to sink an eight-foot putt to remain tied with Don January and Alice Miller.

“I had a similar putt earlier in the round and I left it short to the left,” Elder said. “I was determined to hit it firmer and to the right. I didn’t strike it firm enough and missed by an inch.”

That putt was the last time Elder touched a golf club until he began warming up for the Tournament of Champions Monday.

On Wednesday, Elder had four birdies and a bogey in what he termed a “lucky, lucky day.

“I was rusty and I drove the ball lousy. It wasn’t till the 10th hole that I drove the ball in the fairway. Everything all day was in the left rough.”

Elder said his experiment with a new driver might be shortlived.

“I think this driver is telling me something,” Elder said. “It’s telling me not to use it. All in all, my irons saved me. I went to a stiffer shaft in my irons and it was a good choice. Maybe I should put a new shaft in my driver.”

Barber’s driver was also giving him trouble. The winner of two straight U.S. Senior Opens was the leader through most of the first round.

Paired with defending champion Peter Thomson in the first twosome of the day, Barber shot a three-under 33 on the front nine and was at five-under after birdies on the 10th and 11th holes.

“Overall, I played real well,” Barber said. “I putted well, had good iron shots and was very pleased.”

But Barber bogeyed three of the final five holes to finish at two-under.

Being rusty was a common complaint from players competing in the first round of their first tournament of the season.

Thompson shot a two-over par 74 and Arnold Palmer had an even-par 72.