No Easy Path to the Tour

Few proficient golfers of a certain age haven’t considered taking a stab at the Senior PGA Tour.

The thinking might go something like this:

I’m a scratch golfer.

I could play with those guys.

Goodness gracious, I’m going to be rich.

But reality is rarely so tidy, as Newport Beach’s Jimmy Adams is learning. Adams, 53, a former car salesman and Texas state amateur champion, has discovered that playing good golf is only the beginning.

That’s because there’s no shortage of good players in the 50-plus crowd, and more importantly, the Senior PGA Tour is a very exclusive club.

Today, Adams will try to earn his way in for another week. He is among the 142 players competing at Los Serranos in Chino Hills for four spots in the Toshiba Senior Classic, which is Friday through Sunday at Newport Beach Country Club.

After the gantlet of Monday qualifying--Adams has made it through six times in the last two years, including the 1996 Toshiba--the actual tournament can be a breeze.

Last year, Adams won $37,075 in three events, finishing as high as a tie for 10th in the Franklin Quest Championship in Park City, Utah. Adding the $15,000 he won in the Senior Series, a mini-tour for seniors, Adams nearly covered his golf expenses in 1997.

He’s shooting for more this year. He made the Senior Tour’s Florida swing, failing to qualify in three attempts, once missing out by one shot. He plans to try 15 to 20 more times.

“There’s no doubt I’m beating my head against the wall,” Adams said, laughing. “Sometimes I get the pain from it too.”

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The Senior Tour doesn’t make it easy for players such as Adams. The tour is set up so that stars from the PGA Tour--presumably the players the fans want to watch--have the smoothest path. Most of the players come from the previous year’s official money list and the all-time money list. Only eight spots are open to non-exempt players, four of which are sponsor’s exemptions.

Harry Toscano, another regular on the Monday qualifier circuit, argues that the policy is unfair. Last summer, Toscano filed a $9-million antitrust suit against the PGA Tour and some of its sponsors, alleging a conspiracy that limits the field to certain players.

Adams supports Toscano’s suit and hopes that it leads to more access in the future. Adams understands that fans pay to see the stars, but believes that they also like to see an unknown player hit it big and imagine that they could be in his place.

“But if they are so prohibitive,” he said, “I think they lose that dream or that little hidden passion some people have.”

Adams, who splits time between his Lido Isle apartment and a residence in Texas, still clings to the dream, however. He’s been up on the leaderboard, briefly leading eventual champion Dave Stockton on the second day of the Franklin Quest Championship last July.

“When you don’t do this all your life,” Adams said, then paused, “coming from where I came from, I feel like I have at least accomplished something, but I hope I can do a lot more.”

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Senior Classic field: Despite the late injury withdrawal of Isao Aoki, third on last year’s money list, most of the best senior players will be in Newport Beach this week.

Hale Irwin and Gil Morgan, who won 15 tournaments and more than $4.5 million between them in 1997, head the list of confirmed players.

Seven of the top 10 and 15 of the top 20 money winners from 1997 are expected to play for the $1.1-million purse.

Bob Murphy, Jim Colbert and George Archer, winners of the first three Toshiba events, are entered as are crowd favorites Lee Trevino and Gary Player.

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Tournament Information

What: Toshiba Senior Classic golf tournament

When: Today through Sunday

Where: Newport Beach Country Club, 1600 E. Pacific Coast Highway

Tickets: $12-$15 daily; weeklong passes begin at $45

Parking: At Newport Dunes through Friday and at Fashion Island’s corporate offices Saturday and Sunday. Free shuttle service will be provided.

Benefits: Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian

Information: (714) 515-4840

Daily Schedule

Today: 12:30 p.m.--Celebrity Pro-Am, features professional athletes from all sports joining Senior Tour pros and local amateurs. Proceeds benefit Hoag Foundation and Orange County Special Olympics

Tuesday: 7:30 a.m.--Hoag Cancer Center Breakfast at the 19th Hole, features Jim Colbert, Senior Tour player of the year in 1995 and ‘96, speaking about his battle with prostate cancer; 10 a.m.--Golf clinic at practice range, features Senior Tour player George Archer providing tips for physically restricted golfers; 1:30 p.m.--Gillette Tour Challenge at the 10th tee, featuring two-man teams of Senior Tour players in a six-hole alternate-shot contest; 4 p.m.--Junior Clinic at practice range, features Senior Tour player Dave Stockton providing instruction for local youths.

Wednesday: 7:30 a.m.--Classic Pro-Am, featuring amateur foursomes paired with a Senior Tour player. Second shotgun start begins at 1:15 p.m.

Thursday: 7:30 a.m.--Classic Pro-Am. Second shotgun start begins at 1:15 p.m.

Friday: 8:40 a.m.--Toshiba Senior Classic’s first round of play

Saturday: 7:40 a.m.--Toshiba Senior Classic’s second round of play

Sunday: 7:40 a.m.--Toshiba Senior Classic’s final round of play