Senior Tour a Fleisher Monopoly

Famous Bruces: Springsteen, Smith, Willis, Wayne . . . (Batman, remember?), Lee, Jenner, Hornsby.

Not famous Bruce: Fleisher?

Of course, he’s working to change all that. Bruce Fleisher is the most successful, the hottest, the top money-maker and biggest winner on the Senior PGA Tour this year in what amounts to a one-man assault against a career of anonymity.

Judging from his results this year, you would have to say he’s waging a successful campaign. There is no use underestimating what seven tournament victories and $2.288 million in prize money will do to boost that ultra-important recognition factor.

All this has been produced by Fleisher, a senior tour rookie who won exactly once in a PGA Tour career that began in 1972. When the $1.2-million Pacific Bell Senior Classic begins today at Wilshire Country Club, the 51-year-old Floridian once again will be the player to beat.

No one has done a good job of that this year. And if Fleisher manages to win this week and next at the Senior Tour Championship, he would match Bruce Crampton and Lee Trevino for most victories by a senior tour rookie with nine.

Fleisher suddenly is brushing up against fame, making television commercials and spending a lot of time in the teller’s line depositing money. At least he’s well rested, after his regular-tour career that was basically nondescript.

“I wasn’t big at all,” Fleisher said. “They didn’t even know my flippin’ name.”

They do now. Just about everybody does out here on the over-50 tour.

Fleisher not only leads the senior tour in money, he’s the top scorer (69.24) and leads in top-10 finishes (17). Plus, he’s second to only Christy O’Connor in the putting statistics.

“I never thought about this in my wildest dreams,” Fleisher said. “I thought I could make a nice, comfortable living for a few years . . . but this? Naw. This has been more than I ever could have hoped for.”

Pacific Bell Senior Classic

* When: Today through Sunday.

* Where: Wilshire Country Club.

* Purse: $1.2 million.

* Winner’s share: $180,00.

* TV: Saturday, 1:30-3:30 p.m., Channel 9; Sunday, 3-5 p.m., Channel 9.

* Defending champion: Joe Inman.

* Last year: Inman got his first senior tour victory with a three-under-par 68 that included three consecutive birdies down the stretch. Lee Trevino, who closed with a 65, finished one shot back.

* Tickets: Ticketmaster, (213) 480-3282, or at the gate.

* Tee times: Page 14.