GOLF / SENIOR PGA TOUR AT OJAI : Littler Still Swinging, Trails Colbert by Three

It was 40 years ago that a slender youngster with the sweetest swing this side of heaven came out of San Diego to make a name for himself in professional golf.

Gene Littler will be 64 in July but despite illness, injury and numerous surgeries, he still has that sweet swing.

In only his third tournament since rotator cuff surgery nine months ago, Littler fired a five-under-par 65 Friday in the opening round of the $550,000 GTE West Classic at Ojai Valley Inn & Country Club.

Only a strong finish by Jim Colbert prevented Littler from holding at least a share of the lead. Colbert birdied four of the last five holes, posting a 62, eight under. That tied the tournament record and gave Colbert a three-shot lead.

A blast out of the sand trap into the cup on 18 capped a sensational finish for Colbert.

Tying Littler for second place were Jim Albus, Dick Rhyan and Larry Laoretti. Four, including 1993 player of the year Dave Stockton, are at 66. Arnold Palmer is in a group of eight at 67. A bad break on the 487-yard 18th, where his second shot buried itself in the trap on the right of the green, kept Palmer from being a shot closer.

“I’m really hitting the ball well,” Palmer said. “I had chances to have a much better round. I feel good about my game and maybe I’m getting close to playing like the younger set.”

Defending champion Al Geiberger, playing with the same partners as when he shot his record 59 at Memphis in 1977--Dave Stockton and Jerry McGee--didn’t play with that kind of inspiration and didn’t come close to a 59. His 73 left him 11 shots back and made it doubtful he can repeat as champion. Stockton, though, shot better than his 76 in 1977, coming in with a 66, four behind the leader.

Even Littler was surprised at his performance, which included five birdies and no bogeys.

“I really didn’t play that well,” he said. “I made a couple of good putts and my wedge helped me out of some problems. It would be a real surprise if I won this thing.

“Dr. (Frank) Jobe said it would be at least a year before the shoulder stopped hurting. Just before Christmas I had arthroscopic surgery on my knee. But the worst problem for three years has been an aching back. I’ve had to make some adjustments in my swing.

“It sure would be nice to be back in the interview room Sunday, though.”

It shouldn’t really be a surprise that Littler is playing well again. He has a history of comebacks.

The most notable was from skin cancer in 1972. He won five of his 29 tournaments on the regular tour after recovering and went on to a brilliant career in the 50-and-over group.

“When I had cancer in 1972, it was the first for anyone on tour,” Littler recalled. “I wasn’t thinking of playing golf again. The question I asked was, ‘How long do I have.’ ”

Littler said that on Christmas Day he called Paul Azinger, the regular tour player who is recovering from cancer.

“I just called to give him encouragement and tell him how it was for me,” Littler said. “I never met Paul, but he sounded upbeat and I learned he is.

“I never thought that the recent problems would keep me from playing, but I didn’t expect to make it back this fast. I played in the first two senior events in Florida, but my best score was 71 and best finish 34th.”

It was in the spring of 1954 that Littler, 5 feet 9 and 150 pounds, won the San Diego Open as a 23-year-old amateur. He turned pro later that year and won the L.A. Open in 1955. Later he won the Tournament of Champions three consecutive years.

Colbert, whose allergy problems weakened him late last year, said he is feeling strong again.

“My swing is back and now it seems my putting touch is, too,” Colbert said. “I made putts down the stretch of 25 feet to save par, then eight, 12 and 17 for birdies.”

Golf Notes

George Archer, who had a hole in one in the Chrysler Cup last week, hit a two-iron 201 yards into the cup on the 11th hole Friday. “The four-iron last week was the longest ever until today,” Archer said. “It went out of my sight, but by the crowd reaction I figured it was close. I guess the next one will be with a wood.” . . . Gene Littler leads the Vantage Classic, the tournament within a tournament for the 60-and-older set, by three shots over Charlie Sifford. Sifford, 71, shot a 68, the first to shoot under his age on the senior tour this year.

Perhaps because this is probably the last year for the seniors here, the biggest first-day crowd, estimated at more than 15,000, was on hand. The start of the round was delayed for an hour because of fog.