GOLF SAN DIEGO OPEN : No Looking Back for Crenshaw (65)

Ben Crenshaw has heard all about “the next Ben Crenshaw.”

He even had a look for himself at amateur Phil Mickelson’s highly touted short game, and said, “It’s magic.”

But Ben Crenshaw is not yet ready to go gentle into the history books.

Crenshaw took a one-shot lead over the rest of the Shearson Lehman Brothers Open field, posting a seven-under-par 65 on Torrey Pines’ tougher south course.

Six golfers finished at 66 in the fog-plagued opening round, including Mickelson.

“I had a good time out there,” said Mickelson, who took the day’s largest gallery on a topsy-turvy tour of Torrey Pines’ north course. “The fog wasn’t a problem; I’ve seen the fog roll in quite a bit here.”

Andy Bean, who joined Mickelson, Lon Hinkle, Hal Sutton, Bart Bryant and Mike Standly at 66, hit a seven-iron into the fog on No. 7.

“Nobody clapped,” Bean said. “The ball nearly went into the hole and ended up about a foot and a half away, but nobody clapped because they couldn’t see it. I didn’t see it until I got to the green.”

The fog, while a nuisance, didn’t keep 93 players from breaking par. The tournament field of 156 will be reduced to the top 70 scores--with ties--after today’s second round.

Corey Pavin, winner of last week’s Bob Hope Classic, led a group of eight at 67.

Dan Forsman, the defending champion, said he was “pleased” with a 68 on the south course.

While the pros press on in quest of the $180,000 first prize, Mickelson plays for the chance to become the only amateur to win two PGA Tour events.

“I wanted to play so good for the people in Phoenix and it never really happened,” said Mickelson, who finished in a tie for 32nd place in the Phoenix Open after winning in Tucson earlier. “I learned from that to play as good as I can and not focus on the outcome.”

Mickelson, an Arizona State junior who was reared in San Diego, began his round on the north course’s back nine with a bogey on No. 10.

“I was nervous at the start,” he said. “I get nervous just like anybody else.”

The first of three fog delays, however, gave Mickelson more than an hour to calm himself. After play resumed, he put together birdies on 13, 14 and 15.

A bogey at No. 17 stopped his momentum, and an errant tee shot on the par-five, 488-yard No. 18--his ninth hole of the day--threatened to send him in further retreat. Mickelson found his ball on a scruffy asphalt cart-path, and while allowed the opportunity to take relief in nearby rough, he opted to swing away with a three-iron.

He topped the ball like, well, an amateur.

His shot rolled no more than 80 yards before settling behind two trees. But he lofted a seven-iron within eight feet and made the birdie, and the birdies kept on coming.

Mickelson’s 32 on the front matched Crenshaw’s, but as for the amateur being the next Ben Crenshaw, the modest veteran said, “He can do better than that.”

It may take something, however, to top Crenshaw’s first-day performance. Of the 15 players to finish five-under or better, only five played the longer south course. Today Crenshaw switches to the north, while those who played there Thursday, go south today.

Crenshaw began his round by three-putting for a bogey. That was news, but he was out to make headlines. He birdied three of the next five holes, and then pitched in from 50 yards for an eagle on No. 9.

He made birdie putts of 10, 2 and 18 feet on the back nine to finish two strokes off the south’s course record of 63.

“That has to be one of my best scores on this course,” Crenshaw said. “The north course is two, maybe 2 1/2 shots easier.”