L.A.’s His Place, and Wadkins Likes His Chances of Repeating

By the end of January last year, Lanny Wadkins had already won two tournaments, earned more than $183,000 and had gone on vacation.

With less than a week remaining in February this season, he hasn’t won a tournament and has earned $25,000. All that may be about to change.

Going into today’s final round of the $450,000 Los Angeles Open at Riviera Country Club, Wadkins has his game back in order, is only one shot out of the lead and is confident about winning his third L.A. Open and his second in a row.

Wadkins, playing in the hottest threesome on the course, shot a 67 Saturday, and his 208 for 54 holes makes him the favorite to take first prize of $81,000.

Despite his four-under-par round, he barely managed to hold his own in the group. One of his playing partners, Doug Tewell, birdied the first six holes and shot a 66, while the other, Willie Wood, matched Wadkins’ 67.

“I have been playing well all along, but nothing’s been happening, especially compared to last year at the start when everything was going right. After 27 holes here I was three over par. I said to myself, ‘What are you doing? This is your favorite course.’

“It all started to turn around on the back nine yesterday. I was four under on the back nine. Put that with my three under for the front nine today and that’s a 64. And then, with the one under on the back nine today, I’m ready to go for the victory.”

Always known as one of the toughest competitors on the PGA Tour, Wadkins seemed to relish the challenge when Tewell started throwing the birdies at him.

“You can’t just stand around and watch when someone does that,” Wadkins said. “I have to play my game and I wasn’t doing all that bad myself. When I sank that 30-foot putt on six, I was two under for the round.

“But it was on four (a 238-yard par 3 with deep traps in front) when I knew I was on my game. I hit a 3-wood to within six feet of the pin. When I hit one that good on four, I know I’ve made a good shot. But, I missed the putt.”

The threesome didn’t miss many chances at birdies, all day. Until Wadkins missed a 15-footer on the 15th, one or more of the trio had birdied every hole.

“It seems that when others in your group are making birdies, it can get everyone going. In the first two rounds last year, I was with Scott Simpson and Larry Mize. At one time on the second day, we were 27 under par. I had a 63 the first day, and Larry came back with the record 62 the next. Scott was under par, too.”

Wadkins, who was 13 under par after 54 holes last year, was asked the difference between this year and last.

“About 10 shots and 10 inches of rain,” he replied.

“I take great exception to (Mac) O’Grady’s comments about the course. I don’t know what course he was playing. I was playing Riviera, a great course. I think, considering all the rain they’ve had around here, the course is in wonderful shape.

“The first morning (he teed off at 7:24) it was so heavy, I tried hitting low shots so that I wouldn’t pick up much mud. But almost every shot that morning was out of a poor or muddy lie. It was really tough.

“The weather has been good since we started playing, but I have had to use more club to every hole than I did last year. Before, I’ve always gotten a lot of roll here. There have been other problems, too. With all the rain, they haven’t been able to cut the grass. It is especially heavy around the greens, making it difficult to chip.

“Last year, I think they had put top dressing on the greens. They had a sandy base. They would hold shots, but they didn’t pick up cleat marks. The first two days this year, the greens were marked in a hurry. By late in the day, they were really bumpy. I thought they were better today.

“But you have to give them credit for doing a job. They have done a great job getting the course in shape.”

Wadkins was asked what score he thought it would take today to win.

“I never try to guess a score. If you had told me last year that 15 under wouldn’t have been good enough to win I wouldn’t have believed it. You never know about this course. In 1979 I shot a 70 or 71 (actually, a 69) and won it. So I won’t even try to hazard a guess.

“All I can do is go out there and play my game. I can’t worry about anyone else. I’ll just go out there and do my best.”

Lanny noted that his brother Bobby (at 213) was playing well, too. It reminded him of being competitive.

“That’s where it all started,” he said. “He is 18 months younger, but from early on, we competed in everything, not just golf. I always want to whip his butt and I know he wants to do the same to me.

“After a round we don’t get together to compare what happened. In fact, I won’t see him for three weeks.”

He will be seeing Saturday’s companions, though. Once again, Tewell, Wood and Wadkins are playing together. This time, they will be the last to tee off, though.