GOLF / MAL FLORENCE : Floyd Tries to Turn Double Play

Raymond Floyd has an imposing challenge when the Infiniti Tournament of Champions begins Thursday at the La Costa Resort in Carlsbad.

He will be trying to win two tournaments at the same time.

That isn’t likely. He would have to beat 49 of the world’s best players--29 from the regular tour and 20 from the seniors. Floyd counts twice for a total field of 51.

Floyd, 50, has qualified for both events by winning on the regular tour and Senior Tour in 1992.

So it’s the ultimate double-header. However, there are some intriguing scenarios. For example:

If Floyd ties for the lead in both events next Sunday, what will be the playoff format?

Also, who will Floyd be paired with during the tournament, PGA Tour players or seniors?

Mike Crosthwaite, the tournament director, answered one question and pondered the other.

“In the first round he’ll be paired with the regular tour because he won at Doral before he won a Senior event,” Crosthwaite said.

“Then, thereafter, the policy was he would be paired with whoever he’s closest to the lead, senior or regular. But that’s not settled.”

As for tying for the lead in both divisions, Crosthwaite said: “Conceivably he’d go through each one (playoff). We’re forging new ground.”

Said Floyd: “It will be a challenge for me. I think it’s healthy for the game. People are interested because it’s so unusual.”

Floyd is the first player to win on both tours in the same year.

“It just shows that if you take care of yourself, how competitive you can be,” Crosthwaite said. “I think that can happen again--players qualifying in both divisions--and the guy who comes to mind is Hale Irwin.”

Irwin, 47, is a three-time winner of the U.S. Open, most recently in 1990.

Floyd is known among his peers as the ultimate competitor. When he has a lead--or is close to it--he has a look that is almost chilling to other players.

Fred Couples, the 1992 Player of the Year and a good friend of Floyd, told Golf World: “There aren’t many guys who intimidate me, but he does.”

Other comments:

Mark O’Meara: “I told him (Floyd) at the Ryder Cup he is the most intimidating player I’ve ever played against. He plays every shot like it’s the last shot of his life. He’s like a black leopard stalking the jungle.”

Davis Love III: “He’s still the best competitor out there.”

Earlier, Floyd said he’s playing the best golf of his life, and some of his inspiration came from losing the 1990 Masters title to Nick Faldo in a playoff.

“He took the loss of the Masters real hard and didn’t want to be remembered for losing,” Crosthwaite said.

Floyd won three events on the Senior Tour in 1992, the last in early December in convincing fashion. He was 19 under par for 52 holes at Dorado Beach in Puerto Rico, the concluding Senior event.

Crosthwaite said the PGA Tour players and Senior players will play from the same set of tees at La Costa. In the past there were a few holes were two sets of tees were used because of the wind factor and length that would put the senior players at a disadvantage.

“By and large the golf course will play at championship length,” Crosthwaite said.

And Floyd will be trying to win an unprecedented two championships in one tournament.

The La Costa field is comprised only of winners of regular or Senior Tour events in the past year.

Faldo, Nick Price and David Frost will not be in the regular tour field because of previous commitments. John Daly also will be absent because of his recent alcohol-related problems.

Lee Trevino is out of the senior tournament because he is recuperating from thumb surgery.

Golf Notes

Fred Couples, who won three tournaments in 1992, including the Masters, places a high priority on winning the Tournament of Champions. “It’s an important tournament for me because I want to jump off to a fast start,” said Couples, who won his three events in the first four months of 1992. Couples missed getting into a playoff last year with Steve Elkington and Brad Faxon by one shot. Elkington won. “I was also third in 1990, so I play La Costa pretty good,” Couples said. Couples has never been over par in his last eight rounds at La Costa.

Raymond Floyd has played in the Tournament of Champions 17 times. He has never won, but came close in 1983 when he lost to Lanny Wadkins by one stroke. . . . There are still a few spots available for the La Costa pro-am event that begins Wednesday.

Greg McHatton is now the teaching pro at the Vista Valencia course. . . . The Mike Scioscia/Chino Valley Bank tournament has been rescheduled for Jan. 25 at Industry Hills. . . . Actor Joe Pesci has been added to the field for the AT&T; Pebble Beach National Pro-Am Feb. 4-7. . . . The LPGA’s 1993 schedule will feature 37 events with a total record purse of $21.43 million.