Senior Circuit Returns to Wilshire

When the Senior PGA Tour hits Wilshire Country Club today, most of the attention is going to be focused once again on the usual subject. That would be money, of course.

Joe Inman is the two-time defending champion of the $1.4-million event, in which Larry Nelson will try to wrap up his first money title.

He has a $436,557 lead over Hale Irwin, who is in third place on the money list. Bruce Fleisher is in second, $183,828 behind Nelson, but he isn’t playing this week.

The winner of the 54-hole event earns $210,000.

This is also the last tournament before the Tour Championship, which features the top 31 money winners, so Gary McCord, Lee Trevino and Lanny Wadkins are among those who are trying to crack the list. McCord is No. 32, Trevino is No. 33 and Wadkins is No. 44.

On the bubble in the top 31 are Raymond Floyd (26), George Archer (27), Inman (28), David Lundstrom (30), Bob Murphy (30) and Graham Marsh (31).

The 78-player field also includes Gil Morgan, Dana Quigley, Jim Thorpe, Doug Tewell, Hubert Green, Tom Kite, Gary Player and Chi Chi Rodriguez.

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SBC Senior Classic Facts

* When: Today-Sunday.

* Where: Wilshire Country Club (6,610 yards, par 71), Los Angeles.

* Purse: $1.4 million.

* Winner’s share: $210,000.

* Television: ESPN (Today, 1 p.m.; Saturday, 2:30 p.m.; Sunday, 3 p.m.)