Senior Golf : Palmer, That Magic Name, Trails Leader by One

It is generally accepted that the television exposure of the Legends of Golf tournament is responsible for the success of the Senior PGA Tour.

While it is true that the Legends proved that the old-timers in golf--unlike in most sports--could compete with younger players, it is not really the reason the Senior tour has blossomed. The major reason is the Legend himself.

The Legend, of course, is Arnold Palmer. Just as it has been all these years on the regular PGA tour, get Palmer and the tournament is made. With Palmer in contention, the tournament is a dream come true.

That is the way it is at the Vintage Invitational. Palmer, ignoring an aching, painful disk problem in his back, shot a four-under-par 68 Saturday to move within one stroke of leader Dale Douglass. Douglass shot 70 for a 54-hole total of 206. He has led or been within a stroke of the top in all six rounds he has played as a senior.

Palmer was joined at 207 by Billy Casper, who eagled the 502-yard 18th, and Jim Ferree, who had a three-stroke lead in the tournament until he made a double bogey on 16 and a bogey on 17.

A promoter couldn’t ask for a better bunch of names challenging the top four. At 208 are Gary Player and Howie Johnson. Lee Elder is at 209 and Chi Chi Rodriguez is at 210. All like their chances of winning.

Although he admits he is having trouble sleeping because of his back problem, Palmer didn’t seem to be hurting on two shots on the 18th. He hit a 300-yard drive, then hit a 3-iron 202 yards (according to his figures) to within seven feet of the pin. He missed the eagle putt that would have put him in a tie for first place.

“Yesterday, I was in pain throughout the round,” Palmer said. “It was much better today and did not restrict my swing. It was just a dull pain. I hit some really good shots and some that weren’t good.

“I sometimes have a tendency to hit too quick. When I do that, I wind up with a poor shot. Overall, I putted well. I almost made a long one on 17 but then missed the short one on 18.”

Having Palmer in contention has the Vintage drawing record crowds (6,264 Saturday). It was that way on the regular tour, and it’s that way now on the seniors. In 1980, before he joined the old fellows, there were two tournaments and purses of only $250,000. For this season there are 31 tournaments and $7.5 million in prize money.

Almost everyone in contention thought he could have been in front. Rodriguez pointed out that he hit all 18 greens but made only two birdies, using 34 putts to fashion his 70. Player, in the same group as Palmer and Rodriguez, also had trouble with his putter. Almost the entire gallery followed this threesome.

Ferree, after making a birdie on 15 to go 11 under, brought out a new ball for the 16th hole, the toughest on the course.

“In every tournament I’ve played here, the 16th has been good to me,” said Ferree, often a leader going into the last day but never a senior tournament winner. “I don’t want to alibi, but that new ball was a funny one. I hit a decent drive, but it carried over into trouble on the left. I had a restricted swing on the second shot, three-putted and lost two shots right there. The ball also acted funny on other shots, even on the 18th which I birdied.

“Tomorrow I’ll have a different ball and I’m way overdue.”

Probably the hottest golfer is Casper. He has been sizzling except for a string of four bogeys in six holes on his opening round. He’s also having fun.

“I was a grouch on the regular tour. Now I’m a semi-grouch,” he said, smiling. “Everybody jokes with each other here. It was deadly serious on the other one.”

Douglass just keeps playing good, consistent golf. The only thing he’s done wrong is to lose a playoff last week at Sun City, Ariz.

“It’s great to be on top,” he said. “But it’s really important to be on top Sunday.”