Floyd And Gang Hang Close

By Dave Shedloski

Kettering, Ohio – Raymond Floyd has been turning back the clock this week at the U.S. Senior Open. Or, at least, that’s the impression he’s giving.

Floyd won the 1969 PGA Championship at NCR Country Club. On Saturday, he briefly held the lead in the 26th Senior Open before falling back into a tie for third. The 62-year-old legend turned in his third straight sub-70 round on NCR’s South Course, shooting 69 for a three-round total of 205.

Impressive stuff for a man who only plays occasionally after a cancer scare two years ago. Nevertheless, he wasn’t going to take the bait when he was asked if 36 years had somehow melted away.

“No, I don’t feel that good,” Floyd insisted.

Yet, there he is, just three behind youngsters Loren Roberts and Craig Stadler going into the final round of the year’s fourth senior major. Obviously, there is something about the golf course that Floyd finds pleasing, even if he can’t remember much of it from his victory nearly four decades ago.

“It fit my eye 36 years ago and, obviously, it fits my eye now,” said Floyd. “I’m comfortable on the tee, and that’s paramount.”

Shades of yesteryear: Raymond Floyd held the lead briefly during the third round Saturday but stands three strokes back entering Sunday. (Steve Gibbons/USGA)

Floyd, who is trying to become the 12th player to win PGA Tour and Champions Tour events at the same venue, didn’t know if he could run down the leaders. He hasn’t won a tournament since the 2000 Ford Senior Players Championship, and he has only competed in eight Champions Tour events this year, the last six weeks ago when he tied for eighth at the Allianz Championship.

“I’ve put myself in position, and that’s all you can ask for,” he said. “I can’t go out there and shot par and win. Everybody is playing well.”

Indeed. The list of players who still have a shot at this title is long and distinguished, starting with second-round co-leader Tom Watson, who stumbled to a 73, but is only four back at 7-under 206 with Des Smyth, whom Watson defeated last week in a playoff at the British Senior Open.

Tied with Floyd at 8 under is D.A. Weibring, who shot 68 Saturday, the best score among the top seven on the leaderboard.

“I feel like I’m getting a little bit better every day,” said Weibring, 52, who won his third Champions Tour title earlier this year at Bruno’s Memorial Classic. “I feel good about my chances. I’ve played well all year. It’s just a matter of taking care of your own business.”

Smyth, a native of Ireland, already has two victories this year on the over-50 circuit but has suffered near misses at two of the year’s three majors thus far. His two wins came using a conventional putter. He is using the long putter this week and has rounds of 70-66-70.

“I switch over and back,” he said. “(It’s) just how it feels. You wake up every morning and you feel different.”

Two Australians have an outside shot but will have to find another scoring gear. Greg Norman shot out of the gates with 4-under on the front nine Saturday, including an eagle at the fifth, but gave two strokes back coming in for a 69 to end up at 207. Rodger Davis put together a 67 to end up at 208 but also could have been two shots better without a late stumble.
“It just depends on what (the leaders) finish,” said Norman, who like Roberts is playing in just his second Champions Tour event. “(Making up) six shots around here is going to be tough. But you never know.”

That’s especially true if scoring conditions get more difficult than Saturday, when the pins were tucked and fairways and greens got firm and fast.

“The golf course is drying out, simple as that,” said Norman. “These golf courses really start showing their teeth when they dry out. You’ve got to be careful and maneuver the ball off the tee … or you can pay the price.”

“This is more of championship conditions,” Floyd added. “So I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”

Dave Shedloski is a free-lance writer whose work has appeared previously on www.ussenioropen.com.