GOLF SAN DIEGO OPEN : Torrey Pines Might Not Be Such a Breeze This Weekend

Winter, or at least what passes for one in this temperate zone, has arrived just in time for today’s start of the $900,000 Shearson Lehman Hutton Open.

And one trip around the Torrey Pines golf courses during Wednesday’s pro-am showed that, despite sunny skies, the change in weather could mean trouble for the 156 golfers who usually turn this tournament into one of the easiest scoring stops on the PGA Tour.

As blustery winds--close to 35 m.p.h. with a temperature that barely topped 50--blew off the Pacific Ocean, spectators huddled in small groups, trying to fend off the gusts. The golfers dressed in layers--long johns, bulky sweaters and rain suits. A few donned wool pullover caps more suited to the slopes than the links.

This was the kind of a day that helped put the eastward lean into the indigenous torrey pines that dot the seaside course.

“Something hot feels good,” said Payne Stewart as he entered the interview room and ate a bowl of soup. “It’s a bit brisk out there.”

It wasn’t so biting that Stewart abandoned his trademark knickers, but windy enough that it could influence the way the tournament will be played.

“The wind is affecting the tee shots,” said Fred Couples. “I was hitting a lot more one-irons and three-woods to the greens. If it stays windy like this and the greens dry up, it is going to be very tough.”

That would be a major departure.

Last year’s winner, Greg Twiggs, shot a four-round total of 17-under-par 271, as the first 38 finishers were within eight strokes of each other. Couples said he is not expecting that kind of scoring if the weather continues as it has.

“I’m not saying that someone isn’t going to shoot a 64 or 65,” said Couples, who finished in a four-way tie for 12th last year at 276. “But he would have a big lead instead of being one shot ahead like usual here.”

Only two of the 10 leading money-winners from the 1989 PGA Tour--No. 2 Stewart and No. 6 Tim Simpson--are entered. And one of its biggest draws, two-time champion Tom Watson, withdrew late last week for personal reasons.

Unlike most stops on the tour, the field is split over two courses for the first two days as the players alternate rounds between the North and South courses. The final two days are played on the South Course.

One of the keys to winning has been a low score on the North Course. Both courses are par-72, but the North, at 6,659 yards, is 362 yards shorter than the South.

Couples said, however, that the weather also could play havoc with that traditional strategy, although winds are expected to diminish somewhat today. “Usually you have to shoot a 68 on the North Course or you lose ground, but it won’t be that way this year,” he said.