GOLF / MAL FLORENCE : Oh Misses Cut but Leaves an Impression

Notes and quotes from the U.S. Open at Baltusrol Golf Club:

Jeff Maggert, who played with Ted Oh the first two rounds, was complimentary of the 16-year-old amateur from Torrance High, who shot 76-79 and missed the cut.

“He’s a nice young man. I thought he held his composure well,” said Maggert, who has been on the PGA Tour for three years. “He’s got a great future ahead of him.

“If I had any advice to give, it would be for him to be patient and have fun. He’s got a lot of years ahead of him to learn.”

Of Friday’s round, Oh said: “I was six over the first three holes. I brought it down to one under on the back until the last two holes.

“This is something I’ll never forget.

*

Payne Stewart walked into the interview room Wednesday holding a towel to his mouth.

Asked to explain, he said he had moved too close to a club at the driving range and had been hit in the mouth.

“The teeth are a little loose. What do you think?” Stewart said.

At that moment, Stewart yanked a set of false teeth from his mouth and held them up for everyone to see.

So, Stewart was loose--but his teeth weren’t.

*

The galleries here, primarily fans from New Jersey and New York, are enthusiastic but sometimes rude.

In a practice round, Fuzzy Zoeller hit his tee shot into a pond that guards the front of the green on the fourth hole.

When a fan chided Zoeller, John Daly, Zoeller’s partner, dared the fan to do better. The fan accepted the challenge, then sliced an ugly tee shot.

Zoeller and Daly gave the chagrined fan a golf ball.

When Tom Watson was asked about crowd behavior here, he said diplomatically: “The crowds here are just like New York City. They tell you what they think. At least you know where you stand.”

*

In a practice round, Greg Norman and Nick Price played against Fred Couples and Raymond Floyd.

“It was a friendly match,” Norman said. “We didn’t play for Jordan money.”

*

The USGA announced that the 1999 Open will be played at historic Pinehurst Country Club in North Carolina. The Open in 2000 will return to Pebble Beach, which had the event in 1972, 1982 and last year.

A site hasn’t been named for the 1998 Open. It was believed that it might be Riviera Country Club, since it will be the 50th anniversary of Ben Hogan’s victory at the course in the Pacific Palisades. It’s the only Open held in Southern California.

However, Riviera is now on hold.

*

John Brennan of the Bergen Record in Hackensack, N.J., describing Craig Stadler: “A poster boy for high blood pressure.”

Stadler is playing with a new putter.

“The other one didn’t float very well,” said Stadler, who is known as “the Walrus.”

*

Justin Leonard, the U.S. amateur champion, was paired with Tom Kite and Nick Faldo in the first two rounds. He celebrated his 21st birthday on Tuesday.

While waiting to tee off on the 18th hole on Thursday, the three players killed time by eating candy bars.

When Leonard started to throw his wrapper into the trash, Kite handed the amateur his wrapper as well, according to the New Jersey Daily Record.

“Yes sir, Mr. Kite, sir,” Leonard said.

Replied Kite: “Keep up the good work, boy.”

A few minutes later as Kite went to a cooler to get a soft drink, Leonard said: “Oh, I’ll bring it to you. I mean, you’re an old man.”

Kite, 43, missed the cut. Leonard is still playing.

Golf Notes

The 10th Mission Viejo tournament benefiting the Junior Wheelchair Sports Camp is scheduled June 28 at the Coto de Caza golf club. . . . The LOTS for TOTS tournament will be held Monday at the Pacific Golf Club. . . . The Los Angeles chapter of the Meharry Medical College, located in Nashville, Tenn., will hold its annual tournament June 28 at the Los Verdes Golf & Country Club. . . . The Cobra Match Play championship for Southern California PGA members is scheduled July 12-15 at Redhawk Golf Club. . . . The Barlow Foundation celebrity tournament, hosted by actor Don Knotts, will be held July 19 at MountainGate CC. . . . The Temecula Creek Open tournament, a Spalding Gollden State tour event, is scheduled July 7-10 at the Temecula Creek Inn course.