GOLF / SENIOR TOUR AT INDIAN WELLS : Better Putting by Floyd Lifts Him Over Archer

Raymond Floyd is halfway toward his goal of duplicating history.

His putting on the back nine Sunday at Indian Wells Golf Resort helped him breeze to the championship of the $550,000 Gulfstream Aerospace Invitational.

Floyd, who last year became the only golfer to win a title on both the regular and Senior PGA tours, now needs only a victory on the regular tour to do it again.

His eagle on the last hole gave Floyd an eight-under-par 64 for the final round, a five-shot victory over George Archer and a record 22-under-par 194 for the tournament.

The previous senior record for a 54-hole event--held by six players--was 19 under par. Floyd had two 65s before his final round.

Floyd, who had putted poorly during four senior events this year, shared the lead with Archer after 36 holes.

Floyd was still not putting well.

But on the 205-yard, par-three 10th hole, his putting improved. He sank a downhill, 25-footer for a birdie. When Archer missed a 12-footer, Floyd was in front to stay.

He made putts of 15 feet and eight feet on the next two holes for birdies. Another downhill 30-footer on the 18th hole ended a near-perfect day.

Archer, who lost what little chance he had left when he hit a soft eight-iron into the water and double-bogeyed the 139-yard 15th hole, finished with a 69 and wound up one shot ahead of Isao Aoki, who eagled the 18th to finish at 200.

For Miller Barber, there were no miracles on the final round. He shot a 70 one day after his 62 had broken a record for golfers aged 60 or older. He finished fourth at 201.

Floyd, who said all but two shots he hit all day went right at the hole, reiterated that he will make a decision on which tour he will play after the Senior PGA championship next month.

“I will play three majors in a row (the Tradition, Masters and Senior PGA), then make a decision,” he said. “I’ve had about a dozen seniors tell me I should keep playing on the regular tour. I’ve written that down.”

Maybe the reason the seniors feel that way is understandable. This was Floyd’s 12th event on the 50-and-older circuit. It was his fifth victory. He has won $639,691.

And, he is still not putting as well as he believes he should.

“I like this new putter,” he said, “but don’t write I’m sold on it. He could be gone by Tuesday.

“It was a little discouraging when I missed a four-foot birdie putt on the first hole. Then I missed birdie tries on three and four. I wasn’t too happy.

“It turned around for me when I sank a shot out of the trap on five for a birdie. That pumped me up, and I was fine the rest of the way.”

Golf Notes

Tom Weiskopf is having trouble with his left knee, which was operated on last fall, and may have to rest for several weeks. Weiskopf said he probably shouldn’t have played the final round after limping to a 144 score for 36 holes. He shot a five-under-par 67, despite a badly swollen knee, in the humid 90-degree weather Sunday. “If I have to ride a cart,” he said, “I will quit.” . . . Defending champion Mike Hill, suffering from shingles, said he shouldn’t be playing either. “I’m weak and tired,” he said. “But maybe playing this week will pay off in the future.” . . . Lee Trevino, who said he slept on the floor in the living room of his home because he didn’t want to keep his wife awake with his coughing, was in a little better voice. “It’s the allergies out here in the desert,” he said. “But I feel strong and am encouraged by my first tournament. It shouldn’t take long.” . . . Hill shot a final-round 69 for 211. Trevino’s 73 left him at 213.