Suddenly, Schulz Putts Himself Into Contention

Ted Schulz says there is nothing real good about his game, but there is nothing real bad. Not since he got a new putter and a new technique two weeks ago.

“My length and distance have been good, but I have been struggling with my putting until this week. That’s made the difference,” Schulz said after shooting a 69 at Riviera Country Club to finish at nine-under par 204, one stroke off the lead after three rounds of the Los Angeles Open. He is tied with Davis Love III behind leaders Bruce Lietzke and Jeff Sluman.

Schulz has struggled all season, missing the cut in four of five tournaments, with his only finish a tie for 19th at Tucson. But overcoming struggles seems to be his specialty. Schulz seems more seasoned than the statistics of his four-year career let on.

He turned professional in 1984 but didn’t make it through qualifying school until the fall of 1986. In the interim, he ran the Bermuda Dunes driving range.

In his rookie season, 1987, he lost his tour card after earning only $17,838 in 29 starts.

“I just wasn’t ready. The courses are harder than what you’re used to playing on,” Schulz said.

The next season, Schulz played on the Asian tour, finishing 25th on the money list. But he said it was a real test of patience.

“The conditions were different there,” he said. “The grass was real thick and different than I was used to and the weather was hot. You had to wait for a long time in airports and for buses. We (stayed) a couple of hours from the courses.”

He came back resolved to get his tour card. Then in 1989, he put together his best season, winning the Southern Open--his only tour victory--and earning $391,855 for 30th on the money list. His best finish since was a tie for fourth last season at the Bob Hope Classic.

“I never really had a normal putting stroke and just kind of putted on luck,” Schulz said. “My stroke worked off and on in 1989, and this year I was pleased with how I am hitting the ball, but not with the way I was putting. So I made a change a couple of weeks ago, and now it’s a solid method for me.”

Schulz, who began the day tied for second at seven under par, two strokes off the lead, played in the group with Lietzke and Love. Schulz struggled at first, hitting a bad drive on No. 2 and finishing with a bogey. But then he settled down.

He sank an eight-foot putt for birdie on No. 5, then made three more birdies on the back side, sinking putts of six, 10 and three feet to tie with Lietzke for the lead after No. 17.

But on the final hole, Schulz said he got a “brain cramp” and was distracted. He missed the green, misread his putt and bogeyed the hole.

Davis Love III started and ended the day tied with Schulz. He even played in the same group as Schulz. But their rounds of golf were clearly different.

Love had four birdies and one bogey on the front side to go 10 under par. But he did not make a birdie the rest of the way, three-putting No. 12 for a bogey.

“I seem to play good in streaks and bad in streaks,” Love said. “I need to put together four solid rounds of golf to get my confidence going.”

Love, 27, lives on St. Simons Island, Ga.

In his six-year career, Love has two tournament victories, the 1987 MCI Heritage Classic and the 1990 International. This season he has played in four tournaments, earning $70,961.33, with his best finish at Pebble Beach, where he tied for fourth.

“Tomorrow it will come down to the play from (holes) No. 12 and 13 on in,” Love said. “It’s the guy who can play those last four or five holes in two or three under that will win.”

For the second time in this tournament, Andrew Magee has hit a spectator with a golf ball. Saturday, his first drive of the day hit ABC Radio reporter Liz Shanov, who was standing against the ropes.

“It was a real hazy sky, so when he teed off, we were all trying to pick up the ball,” Shanov said. “Then all of a sudden it hit me on the leg and bounced back on the fairway.”

Magee walked down the fairway and asked Shanov what happened.

“And then he thanked me,” Shanov said.

Magee hit a spectator on Thursday when his approach shot flew the green on hole No. 10.