Simon Hobday

Through the early part of Senior Open week, Carolina storms and rain drenched Pinehurst No. 2, softening both fairways and greens into benign surfaces and frustrating the USGA's policy of "hard and fast."

Wednesday's evening precipitation was, therefore, a blessing to the early starters on Thursday. Three of the top four players on the board at the conclusion of play -- Jim Albus and Simon Hobday with a pair of 66s, Aussie Graham Marsh with 67 -- had started their rounds by 9:30 a.m. Albus and Hobday led the birdie count with six each.

Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino and Raymond Floyd all shot 69s and were hovering in range.

When the second day's play was finally completed, the results showed that Tom Weiskopf had followed Thursday's disappointing 72 with a 66, sharing the low round for the day with senior rookie, Jay Sigel. There were three 67s, including one by Hobday that set a two-round scoring record for the Senior Open.

The 36-hole cutoff fell at 7 over par; Arnold Palmer, one better than that figure, would stay for the weekend, along with 66 others.

With the final group -- Hobday at 14 under par, Albus at 12 under and Marsh at 8 under -- going off the first tee at 1:45, any substantial delay would place a Sunday finish in jeopardy. At the appointed time, though, only a few fair-weather clouds were scattered across the sky. Off the three went, following Jack Nicklaus and Tom Wargo, who were 6 under and out of the hunt.

On the ninth, only Albus could convert his putt, and that put him into sole possession of second -- for the moment. Things remained that way on the 10th, as all the players again made pars, and on the 11th, with three more regulation scores, and yet again on the 12th, with yet three more pars.

Then came the 13th, a 374-yarder that had played third easiest all week long. Albus and Marsh had no luck with their putts, and made pars; Hobday holed his and now had a three-stroke lead. Hobday missed a 7-foot putt on the 14th for a crushing double bogey; Albus couldn't can his 6-footer and had a bogey. Marsh, meanwhile, just parred and now it stood Hobday at 11 under, Marsh and Albus at 9 under.

On the 15th, Hobday made yet another bogey and the championship was tightening. The 16th, a reachable par 5 of only 495 yards, saw Marsh and Hobday two-putt for birdies. Albus chunked his chip shot and had to settle for par and stood, for the first time in third place, at 9 under.

On the par-3 17th, both Marsh and Albus made pars. All three players drove in the fairway on the final hole. Marsh's chip wasn't close and he was left with about a 9-footer for his par. Hobday stroked the ball to the green to about 2 feet; Albus's birdie try just slid past the right side of the hole. Marsh lined up his putt. It was hard, but not straight enough. Then Albus tapped in. Hobday holed his putt, falling to his knees and thankfully kissing the turf of the final green.