Golf / Andy Rivera : Strange Plans a Major Effort to Win British Open

Curtis Strange, who became the first golfer in nearly four decades to win consecutive U.S. Open championships, has his sights set on another major--the British Open.

“I’m thinking more and more about the British Open,” he said of the tournament that starts Thursday in Scotland. “This year I really want to do well. Last year I was a little overwhelmed, then shot 79 in the first round.

“I’m looking forward to it and the PGA. I have a lot better attitude. I’m more fired up.”

Although Strange has not won any of the other majors--the British Open, the Masters, or the PGA Championship--he does not consider it impossible to win more than one a year.

“But as far as winning all four majors in a year, I don’t think it is possible, especially when a guy can’t dominate our tour,” he said. “Sure, if a Jack Nicklaus came out, it could be possible. It was always possible when he was playing.”

After the British Open, Strange will team with Greg Norman in next month’s $750,000 Fred Meyer Challenge, a charity team tournament in Portland, Ore., Aug. 21-22.

Jack Nicklaus, Jerry Pate, Mark Wiebe and Miller Barber are among the confirmed entrants in the 13th annual Jerry Ford Invitational tournament.

The pro-am tournament will be played July 31-Aug. 1 on two courses--Vail Golf Club and the Country Club of the Rockies at Arrowhead.

Among the celebrities assembled by the former President will be Bob Hope, Clint Eastwood, Dinah Shore, Michael Jordan, Burt Lancaster, Robert Wagner and Julius Erving.

Other pros who are committed to play include Scott Hoch, defending champion Gary Hallberg, Andy North, Calvin Peete, Mike Reid, Dale Douglass and J.C. Snead. PGA commissioner Deane Beman also is scheduled to play.

Frank Thomas, technical director of the U.S. Golf Assn., believes that long-shafted putters should be banned, according to the August edition of Golf Digest.

USGA officials would not comment officially, but the legality of the club was on the agenda of the last USGA executive committee meeting, and could be resolved at the next meeting in August.

The Fujitsu National Team Championship Series is about to become the largest amateur golf tournament in the United States.

More than 1,500 golf clubs around the country are holding qualifying rounds for this two-person, best-ball event. With these numbers, it is probable that more than 50,000 golfers will make it the largest event in golf history.

Mancil Davis, current world record holder for the most holes-in-one by a professional, got his 49th ace in the Boy Scouts of America annual golf outing at Las Colinas, Tex. Davis, who posted the hole-in-one on May 31, had a 2 1/2-year dry spell between aces, his last one coming on September 22,1986. Art Wall Jr. has 45.

Wilshire Country Club pro Rick Reilly, son of American PGA President Patrick J. Reilly, and three of his assistants (Laurie Sneddin, Jeff Puchalski, and Ken White) played 166 holes over a period of 15 hours as part of the PGA’s 38th National Golf Day charity program.

The group collected $24,500, the largest sum raised by a single course in the history of the program. Pledges are made by country club members based on the number of holes played and birdies made during the marathon.

Mark Calcavecchia leads the point standings for the Ryder Cup Team after the Greater Hartford Open with a score of 742.5, followed by Curtis Strange at 666.25. Others include Chip Beck, 643; Tom Kite, 587.5; Paul Azinger, 512.5; Fred Couples, 473.542; Ken Green, 465; Payne Stewart, 450; Mark McCumber, 419.167, and Mark O’Meara, 412.5.

Ten of the Ryder Cup Team positions are reserved for the the players with the most points accumulated through the 1989 PGA championships in August. The 1989 PGA champion, if eligible, is also an automatic team member. Team captain Raymond Floyd will select the final member, as well as a replacement for the PGA champion if he is ineligible or among those in the top 10.

A celebrity tournament to benefit the “Adopt-a Senior” home delivery meal project will be held Friday, Aug. 4 at Griffith Park. The deadline for entry is July 17, with a fee of $75.

The Optimist Junior World Golf Championship will be held at four locations in the San Diego area, beginning with opening ceremonies today at 4:30 p.m. Torrey Pines, Balboa Park, Singing Hills, and Presidio Hills will all play host to the tournament, which attracts more than 750 entries from 33 countries.

Former Bruin Duffy Waldorf leads the tour in driving distance through the Greater Hartford Open with an average of 278.1 yards, while Lee Trevino leads in putting accuracy with an average of 1.714 putts per hole. Other statistical leaders are Tom Kite, scoring (69.46); Bruce Lietzke, greens in regulation (.716); Lon Hinkle, eagles (11); Fred Couples, birdies (292); and Calvin Peete, driving accuracy (.881).