Colbert Waited, Watched, Then Won : Golf: He used experience as a TV commentator to become one of the players to beat on the Senior Tour.

Since the PGA Senior Tour soared to popularity a few years ago, golfers have started preparing for it years before they turn 50.

Lee Trevino began strenuous workouts to strengthen his back for the competition.

George Archer, Miller Barber, Don January and J.C. Snead went right from the PGA Tour to the 50-and-older group.

Jim Colbert, last season’s rookie of the year, figured he had a unique advantage. He spent the few years before becoming eligible doing telecasts of the senior events for ESPN.

“I think that gave me an edge,” he said. “I watched them and learned. Among other things, I found out how hard these guys still work to improve their game.”

Learn is exactly what Colbert did. He won three tour events, lost a playoff and was second four other times. He finished third on the money list with $880,749. Colbert, who became eligible March 9, missed five tournaments.

One of those was the GTE West at Ojai, but he will be playing this time around, today through Sunday at the Ojai Valley Inn & Country Club.

There have been four winners in the first four senior events this year. In the fourth one, at Tampa, Fla., Colbert had to go four extra holes to win a playoff from Archer.

The $67,500 first prize at Tampa sent Colbert to the top of the money list with $118,242, $22,000 ahead of Archer.

Colbert says he exceeded even his expectations in his rookie season.

“I thought I would do well,” he said. “I had no idea I would do this well, though.

“Back trouble forced me to quit the regular tour in 1987. But Pete Egoscue, the same guy in San Diego who had so much success with Jack Nicklaus’ back problem, worked on mine. I no longer have pain, but I have to do strenuous exercises every morning before I go to the course.”

Colbert won eight tournaments in 21 seasons on the PGA Tour before retiring early after winning only $15,000 in 1987.

Although he had not won on the tour since the Colonial in Texas in 1983, Colbert showed his mettle early in his senior career.

In his third tournament, the Tradition at Scottsdale, Ariz., he finished second to Nicklaus. Then he tied Chi Chi Rodriguez in the Murata at Dallas before losing on the fourth hole of a playoff.

A third consecutive second-place finish had Colbert believing he was ready to break through.

In his 10th senior tournament, sort of a homecoming, he did. It was the Southwestern Bell in Kansas City.

“This was the week I felt I had to do it,” said Colbert, who grew up in the Kansas City area. “Now the seconds and thirds are asterisks. Going to Kansas City I never dreamed it would be like it was. I felt like I was at a Chiefs or Royals game. The fans were rooting that hard.”

While a broadcaster, Colbert spent his spare time watching the seniors practice and play.

“Before becoming a broadcaster, I never paid any attention to what other golfers did,” Colbert said. “I just did my own thing, practicing and playing.

“But watching these fellows gave me a different perspective. I studied the way they played shots. You can’t believe how much it helped my game. That’s what I mean when I say I had a unique advantage.”

Colbert was asked the difference between his first victory on the regular tour, the Monsanto Open in 1969, and his first senior victory.

“In 1969, I was a gung-ho kid,” he said. “I thought I could do anything. I thought I could win every tournament. I didn’t know what pressure was. I thought I could go through a wall.

“The way I was playing when I joined the senior tour, I was pretty sure I would win. When I did, though, in a different way, it was every bit as much of a thrill.

“It’s just a good feeling to win a tournament. But there really isn’t a lot of pressure out here. Everything is a bonus. I thought that at this age, I would probably be a club pro somewhere. I figured my competitive days were over.”

Colbert faces a tough field in the 54-hole tournament. This is the favorite course of Rodriguez, who won last year’s event, cut to 36 holes by heavy rains.

Arnold Palmer had three bogeys but shot a four-under-par 66 in the pro-am Thursday, the best round of the day.

The weather for the pro-am was threatening, and rain fell late in the round. The forecast was for clearing today.

Colbert got off to a slow start this season. He shot 76s in the first two rounds of the Tournament of Champions at La Costa and finished far back. At Key Biscayne, Fla., a month later, he finished in a tie for third place.

Then he won the Tampa tournament, almost losing it when he missed a 15-foot birdie putt on the final hole. But Archer, who has been playing the best golf on the tour since last fall, hit his second shot into the water and had to scramble for a bogey to qualify for the playoff.

“I was fortunate to be in the playoff because George didn’t figure to get a bogey,” Colbert said. “Then George just missed on three putts inside me. So, when I put the ball so close on the par-three 17th, I made mine and that was it.

‘The way I feel, I expect to do well this season. But it is going to get tougher every year.

“Dave Stockton joined the tour late last season and he will do well. Late this year there will be three more good ones. I don’t know how much (Isao) Aoki will play, or Tom Weiskopf, either. But I do know that Raymond Floyd will be ready for us in early September. That’s all he’s talked about for more than a year.

“In another year, Bob Murphy will be eligible. He’s another broadcaster. He’ll do well, especially if he watches and learns from the seniors. I guarantee it.

“I can see the senior tour continuing to grow. I’m just glad I’m a part of it.”