1995 / 77th PGA RIVIERA : THE FRONT NINE

A look at golf’s frontside, the stories you expect to read.

FLY LIKE A DOUBLE EAGLE

A golf rarity--a double eagle--occurred in Friday’s second round of the 77th PGA Championship.

From the fairway, Per-Ulrik Johansson, 28, using a three-wood 274 yards from the pin, holed out his second shot at Riviera’s 564-yard, par-five 11th hole.

“That was the first time I had seen a double eagle,” said Johansson, whose shot helped him make the cut.

“I nailed the driver, and I had about 270 to the hole and I just nailed it with the three-wood. Those were two pure shots. Nothing on the heel, just in the middle of the clubface.”

Double eagles don’t happen every day, particularly at major championships. The last one on record from a PGA Tour event was Mike Donald’s at the 1994 Texas Open.

The Swedish-born Johansson, now living in Marbella, Spain, is playing in his first PGA Championship. His victory in last year’s Czech Open was his only one on the European tour since 1991.

No double eagle has occurred at Riviera since the one Mike Reid shot at the 1988 L.A. Open.

There were three last year, including one by Jeff Maggert at the Masters. And the last one at a PGA Championship belonged to Darrell Kestner at Inverness in 1993.

THIS ‘1’ COUNTS

Lee Janzen’s hole in one Friday was a first for him in professional tournament play.

“I got one in a pro-am once,” Janzen said. “I think I have seven total if you count a couple I shot just out there by myself and in practice rounds and under the lights at a par-three course.

“Do those count?”

Janzen holed out the 175-yard sixth at Riviera with a seven-iron. It was the second ace of this PGA Championship; Fuzzy Zoeller got one Thursday at the 14th.

A SMALL CLUB

Only one of 25 club professionals survived the 36-hole cut of par 142.

Wayne DeFrancesco, 37, a teaching pro at Woodholme Country Club in Pikesville, Mo., barely squeezed in with 69-73--142 to keep the club pros from being shut out for the first time since 1989 at Kemper Lakes, Ill.

Frank Dobbs of Port St. Lucie, Fla., who opened with a four-under-par 67, slipped to a 78 Friday to miss by three shots.

BAD WALK UNSPOILED

Glen Day, Ed Dougherty, Justin Leonard, Steve Lowery, John Mahaffey, Jose Maria Olazabal, Joe Ozaki, Ernie Els and Nick Faldo all eagled the 503-yard opening hole. Limping from a sore right foot, Olazabal said later: “Physically, I’m not OK. The walking really bothers me.”

Bad day in L.A.?

No. He shot a 66.

EARLY TIMES

Pleased with his early (7:07) tee time, Leonard credited that as a definite advantage toward his 66.

Just as he was asked whether the wind had picked up as the day progressed, a gust flapped the press tent. Leonard laughed and said: “The wind might pick up a little more this afternoon, and that’s just really too bad.”

“The course plays at least a shot better in the morning, because of the greens,” said Brian Kamm, who played in Leonard’s threesome.

Could be true.

Kamm also shot 66.

WHOOPS

John Huston was disqualified Friday morning after signing an incorrect scorecard following Thursday’s round. Huston had signed for a seven-over-par 78, then discovered overnight that a par on the card had actually been a bogey on the course.

He reported the finding early Friday and was disqualified, leaving Paul Stankowski and Craig Parry to play on as a twosome.

MOST IMPROVED

Making an 11-shot improvement overnight was Steve Stricker, who claimed the day’s best score, a 64.

The former University of Illinois golfer had one glitch--a bogey five at No. 2--then torched the place. Stricker carded only one other five in the round.

WIRED?

To allow Jack Nicklaus a stance to hit his second shot from the right rough on No. 3, marshals and fans had to move 24 television cables.

Nicklaus, who is nine shots off the pace after a 71, said, “I’m not out of it, but today I couldn’t get my chin up. Paul Azinger and I played together and we played decently, but we couldn’t make anything happen.

“The golf course is there for the taking.”