No Stopping Nicklaus After Hot Start

It’s pretty tough to make a scene here perched on the bluffs of Newport Coast at Pelican Hill Golf Club, where majestic vistas of the Pacific Ocean steal most of the attention.

But when you’re Jack Nicklaus and you’re making one of your famous Golden Bear charges, it’s even tougher not to.

Nicklaus birdied the first three holes, eagled the eighth and carried partner Tom Watson to a 5 and 4 dusting of Alan Doyle and Dana Quigley in a first-round Senior PGA Tour match at the Diners Club Matches.

Nicklaus and Watson, who have not lost a match in any event when teamed together, will play Bruce Fleisher and David Graham in the final today.

“I’ve been playing very well the last week or so,” said Nicklaus, who missed much of the 1999 season after hip-replacement surgery in January.

“I’m really pleased to see that. I’m kind of excited just to be playing golf.”

So excited that when Watson closed the team better-ball match with a par on the 14th hole, the pair played out the final four holes. Nicklaus made another eagle on the 17th hole and finished with a 62.

“The lowest score I’ve shot in probably 30 years,” Nicklaus said. “But you’re shooting 62 in a four-ball match--a better-ball match where you are . . . doing things that you might not normally do. If I had played an individual round today I mean I don’t think I’d have shot 62, but maybe I would have.”

Nicklaus, on the advice of son Gary, recently corrected his putting alignment with the aid of a laser beam on his putter face. He discovered he was lining up two inches left and made the adjustment that spurred the assault on Pelican Hill.

Fleisher carried his team to its 3 and 2 victory over defending champions Gil Morgan and Jay Sigel with birdies on Nos. 3, 6 and 11 and a holed fairway shot for eagle on the 13th.

Defending LPGA Dottie Pepper and Juli Inkster will play Karrie Webb and Kelly Robbins in the final.

Inkster made a match-saving two-putt par over two tiers from 35 feet on the 18th hole for a 1-up victory over Laura Davies and Kelli Kuehne.

Webb and Robbins won, 3 and 1, when Annika Sorenstam and Lorie Kane each three-putted the 17th hole.

Defending PGA champions Steve Elkington and Jeff Maggert will play Mark Calcavecchia and Fred Couples in the final.