Healthy Elkington Back in Hunt at PGA

Steve Elkington won the 1995 PGA Championship at Riviera Country Club when he was coming back from serious allergy problems. This time, he’s coming back from meningitis, which probably means he’s a contender again, right?

“I’m due for some good luck and some good golf,” said Elkington, who shot his second 69 and is two under par after 36 holes.

“I’ve always tended to do better out here when I feel well. Sometimes my health has been a little bit of a question mark, but now I feel great. Let’s just say I’m close to 100%.”

This would be a good time for Elkington to rescue a miserable year. He hasn’t finished higher than 30th in a full-field event and has made only $84,024 in 12 tournaments.

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It’s nice to be popular in your hometown. A huge “Freddie for President” banner greeted Fred Couples when he arrived at the 18th green.

“I tried not to get too involved in looking all over the place,” said Couples, who grew up in Seattle. “It’s fun to look at both sides [the galleries lining the fairways] and you get a little hooked into that.”

Couples shot 74-71--145, making the cut by the narrowest of margins.

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Even though he birdied the last two holes, Stuart Appleby shot a three-over 73 and missed the cut at 10-over 150. But Appleby, playing for the first time since his wife was killed in an automobile accident last month, said he was encouraged just by coming back.

“I’m looking at this process as not an instant thing,” he said. “I’m out here playing and I’m not 100% prepared. But, under the circumstances, there is no other option.

“I have to deal with a lot of issues and one of them is golf. I’m not expecting too much. . . . I’m not expecting great things.”

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Frank Lickliter knows a big, bad tree when he sees one and he’s seen his share at Sahalee.

“You mean the trees that are taller than the fairways are wide?” Lickliter asked.

Yeah, those trees.

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Check the record books. Players in recent years whose first--or only--major was the PGA include Bob Tway in 1986, Jeff Sluman in 1988, Payne Stewart in 1989, Wayne Grady in 1990, John Daly in 1991, Nick Price in 1992, Paul Azinger in 1993, Elkington in 1995, Mark Brooks in 1996 and Davis Love III in 1997.

Scott Gump was asked if he would be next.

“Sure, I’ll take it,” he said. “Why not?”

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Tiger Woods said he’s unhappy with the way he is hitting the ball, but at least he knows what the problem is.

“I’m not wide enough on the top of the golf swing and, consequently, I get a little steep,” he said. “And I tend to trap the ball a little bit, so I’m sweeping and picking it up. We’ll get it.”

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Nick Faldo shot a one-over 71, but he was pleased with his putting after getting a tip from Ben Crenshaw.

“He knew what was wrong instantly,” Faldo said. “He studied how the putter moves away for the first two or three inches from the ball. I’ve just got to go away smooth without any deviation. That was the key thing. I really think it is going to make a major difference.”

Faldo is at 144, eight strokes off the lead.