GOLF SENIOR TOUR AT INDIAN WELLS : It’s Warm, So Trevino Begins His Comeback

Finally, in the seventh event on the Senior PGA Tour, Lee Trevino is ready to start his season.

Trevino, sidelined since thumb surgery in mid-December, is eagerly awaiting his chance in today’s first round of the $550,000 Gulfstream Aerospace Invitational at Indian Wells Golf Resort.

Last year’s leading money winner after earning more than $1 million for the second time in three years, Trevino faces a strong field, including defending champion Mike Hill, leading money winner Al Geiberger, Raymond Floyd and Tom Weiskopf.

For 12 years, this tournament, one of the oldest on the senior tour, was played at the prestigious Vintage Country Club. But members there decided they no longer wanted the seniors and it was moved down the street. Although Hill and others regret leaving the Vintage, they expressed pleasant surprise at the 6,476-yard Indian Wells layout.

Trevino originally planned to debut last week in Texas, but he withdrew because of cold weather. In 88-degree heat, he is ready to try again.

“I feel good now,” he said after shooting a five-under-par 67 in the pro-am Thursday. “I can do anything with the thumb and it doesn’t hurt. But Dr. Kirk Watson, who operated on it, wants me to wear a brace for three months. I’m having trouble adjusting to the brace. When I try to make a precision shot, I pull the ball.

“The thumb doesn’t hurt, but when you reach 53, there’s always something. For two days I ached all over. I just thought it was from practicing too much. Then, my throat started hurting and I knew it was allergies. I’ve lost my voice, and you know that’s tough on me.

“I called my doctor and found he was in bed with the same problem. There’s been too much rain, and the whole desert’s blooming. The doctor gave me a shot and I’m much better.”

Hill, who beat Tommy Aaron and Jim Colbert in a playoff at the Vintage last year, has missed the last two tournaments because of shingles.

“We were snowed in in Michigan, and until Tuesday I had not swung a club for almost three weeks,” Hill said. “I’m weak, but it’s nice to play again.

“We were spoiled by the Vintage. It’s such a wonderful course. But I’m pleasantly surprised by the course. The par-fives are reachable (in two shots) and, unless the wind whips up, there will be some low scores.”

Trevino said that the wind would help determine the scores.

“This course is in perfect condition,” he said. “So, if there isn’t much wind, it will take 10 to 15 under (par) for 54 holes to win.”

An interesting first-round pairing has Trevino and Mike Hill playing with J.C. Snead, who finally broke through for his first victory in Texas last week.

“It was only 38 (degrees), but when I realized how cold it was, there was no way I was going to play,” Trevino said. “I told Herman (caddie Herman Mitchell) he didn’t have to worry about not having warm clothes, we weren’t playing. It’s a bit different here.”