Rainout Shortens Golf Tournament : Andy Williams Open Is Cut to 54 Holes So It Can Finish on TV

The tournament leader was thinking about movies, and the tournament chairman was thinking about television.

The first rainout in the 35-year history of the San Diego Open, known this year as the Shearson Lehman Brothers Andy Williams Open, left the principals with some heavy decisions to make Saturday.

For Larry Mize, who has a one-shot lead going into today’s final round of what has been shortened to a 54-hole tournament, an evening of escape was desired.

With an $81,000 first-place check on the line, Mize wanted to spend Saturday night thinking about something other than golf.

In a brief interview, he entertained suggestions for movies. “I’ve seen ‘Out of Africa,’ ” he said, “but I haven’t been to ‘Murphy’s Romance.’ Anybody heard anything about ‘Kiss of Spiderwoman’?”

Tournament chairman John Brophy was decidedly more serious than Mize.

Because of Saturday’s rainout, and the modest attendance for the first two rounds, the tournament is faced with the possibility of losing money. “We need a spectacular turnout today,” Brophy said.

The decision was made to end the tournament after 54 holes rather than add another 18 on Monday for one overwhelming reason: TV.

“We wanted to finish on Sunday, when the world cares,” Brophy said. “CBS had only about 12 stations lined up last Monday for the final round of the AT&T; Open (which was scrubbed because of rain). NBC informed us they wouldn’t televise Monday if we played then.”

The cancellation of Saturday’s round was forced by the steady rain of the previous night, which left the greens unplayable.

Even though the groundskeepers went at the greens with their squeegees, there was simply too much water in the ground to permit a decent putt.

“This is the first rain suspension we’ve ever had, and I guess a 35-1 shot is going to come in sometime,” Brophy said. “We’ve had a couple of fog delays and a hail delay one year, but never a rainout.”

Tickets for Saturday’s round will be honored today, and the full purse will be paid, according to Brophy. There are 85 players in the field, and 15 of them are within three shots of Mize.

“If the weather is good, I don’t think a 68 will be good enough to win today,” said Mize, who shot 66 and 68 the first two days.

“It’s more likely that it will take a 67 or maybe even a 65. I sure won’t be trying to ease in. I don’t want someone to shoot 64 and drill me.”

Mize said the soggy conditions won’t affect his strategy.

He seemed more concerned with getting out of the cramped clubhouse to tap a few putts, just to keep his touch.

“After sitting around all day, I’ve lost the urge to play,” Mize said after the round was scrubbed about 1:15. “I would be cold and stale if we had to play now. There hasn’t been much to do except talk and stroll around a bit.”

Mize’s closest pursuers are Danny Edwards and Bob Tway, who are one shot back, followed by a group of nine players two shots off the lead.