Archer Feels No Pain After 64 : Senior golf: He wins by one stroke at Mesa Verde and has second thoughts about retiring.

George Archer was thinking of retiring only a few days ago. Now he’s already the comeback player of the year.

Archer, who has to take a strong painkiller merely to be able to compete, sank a bouncing 25-foot birdie putt on the next-to-last hole Sunday at Mesa Verde Country Club in Costa Mesa to win his first tournament in 16 months.

He shot a six-under-par 64 for a 54-hole total of 199 to win the $800,000 Toshiba Senior tournament by one stroke over Tom Wargo and Dave Stockton. Wargo, who led by a shot after 36 holes, birdied the last two holes in his round of 68, but it was too little, too late.

But through most of the back nine, it was a shootout between Stockton and Archer, with Archer in the threesome behind Stockton. During one stretch, when one birdied, the other tied him on the next hole. But Stockton, who also had a final-round 64, ran out of birdies.

It was the 16th Senior PGA victory for Archer, a San Francisco native, and his fifth in California. Instead of retiring, he said he wants to have some more fun.

“But I have what they call a deteriorating right hip,” Archer said. “Without a strong drug (Indocin), I can’t even play golf. I have thought about retirement because I have had trouble putting, hitting the ball and concentrating.

“But what do you say after a round like today? I just decided to think basics and I had a wonderful day. How can I retire now?

“There is great fun in battling down the stretch the way Dave and I did. That’s what golf is all about.”

At 6 feet 5, Archer is one of the few tall men who have been golfing stars. Throughout a 31-year career that included 12 victories on the PGA Tour, putting was Archer’s strong point.

He won 15 tournaments in his first four years with the 50-and-older group despite back trouble. The hip problem first occurred last year, and although Archer earned $700,000, he was worried.

Until his 68 in the final round at San Antonio, he had played poorly this season.

“I was going to try a few more tournaments and then quit,” Archer said. “Even (Saturday), when I shot a 68, I was pitiful on a couple of short putts. They weren’t even close. But today, I started making putts. Beginning with a 16- or 18-footer for birdie on No. 7, I felt comfortable. I feel good that I birdied six of the last 12 holes. Maybe I’m back.”

Stockton has two sons--Dave Jr., who is on the PGA Tour, and Ron, who turned pro Sunday. Ron’s strong point is teaching, and he helped his father again.

“He said I was putting with an open stance,” the elder Stockton said. “I closed it and had a big day. I didn’t win but I’m happy with my game. I shot a 64 and lost.”

However, Stockton is in a familiar position on the money list. The two-time champion is back on top with $277,680 so far this year.

Next to Archer, the happiest golfer on the course had to be Marion Heck, a fringe player who has been to qualifying school five times. He shot a seven-under 63 to finish fourth at 202, earning $48,000, more than twice his previous career total.