SENIOR GOLF AT RANCHO PARK : It Just Keeps on Getting Better

Once Arnold Palmer became interested, there was little doubt the Senior PGA Tour would succeed.

There were some things that could have held it back. For one, there was the fear Jack Nicklaus, a Lee Trevino or a Raymond Floyd would win all the time. There was also concern that there might not be enough good players at 50 and over to make it competitive every week.

Such problems never materialized, and senior golf mushroomed.

A case in point is the $750,000 Ralphs Senior Classic, the 54-hole tournament beginning today at Rancho Park. Nicklaus, who plays infrequently, and Trevino, who is ailing, are not here. Floyd is playing, but has not been at the top of his game, especially his putting.

Yet, competition will run deep as the senior golfers try to slow Dave Stockton’s drive to a second consecutive money title.

Among those challenging Stockton are Jim Albus, one of four who has already won $1 million this year; two others who are close, Jim Colbert and Tom Wargo defending champion Dale Douglass and the always dangerous Floyd.

Nicklaus didn’t take over the tour, in part at least, because he wasn’t that interested. Injuries set back Trevino, and Floyd wasn’t sure what tour he wanted to play.

There is another reason for the competitiveness of the tour. It has developed a new class of golfers--club professionals and amateurs who failed to reach potential early.

Included in the group are such late comers as Wargo, Albus, Larry Gilbert, Walt Zembriski, Jay Sigel, John Paul Cain, Simon Hobday, Rocky Thompson and numerous others. None made it on the regular tour, although Sigel and Cain were world-ranked amateurs. What is amazing is that they are winners, despite the presence of stars from the regular tour.

In any given tournament, there are at least 30 capable of winning. In the early years, there were maybe half a dozen who could win. In 1985, Australian Peter Thomsom won nine of the 27 tour events. This year there are 44 events, few repeaters.

Every year, several unknowns move into contention, making it tougher for the established stars to keep winning. Newcomers breaking through this year include Sigel, Kermit Zarley, Tony Jacklin and Dave Eichelberger.

To show how difficult the tour has become, Stockton, the 1993 player of the year, hasn’t won since mid-August. Trevino, out for the year because of a disk problem, is winless since July. And Floyd last won in May.

This tournament is one of only three more that count in this year’s money battle. Next week there is the Kaanapali and in mid-November there is the $1.35-million Golf magazine tour championship.

The battle for the money title and a new record for earnings is keen. Stockton, who won $1,175, 944 last year, has already won more than that--$1,321,135.

But there is still a small chance he could lose the money title. Floyd is at $1.17 million, Albus at $1.08. Amazing, considering that in 1982, total purses on the senior circuit were $1.3 million.

A sad note is that Palmer won’t be here. He is winding down his career and Arnie’s Army will have to find someone else to follow. Maybe it will be Chi Chi Rodriguez, grand marshal of the Rose parade, or the former commissioner of the regular tour, Deane Beman.