Those Who Start First Don't Give Up

By Dave Shedloski

Hutchinson, Kan. – There is a reason that the U.S. Golf Association has a 10-shot rule as part of determining the cut in its stroke-play championships, including this week's U.S. Senior Open. Anyone 10 behind the leaders with 36 holes to play is still in contention to win the championship. They would have to perform exceptionally, but the possibility of winning is still in their minds.

Jim Thorpe turned that thought into action Saturday at Prairie Dunes Country Club. Having made the cut at 6 over par, Thorpe began his third round 10 behind leader Tom Watson. But he cut that deficit in half before Watson ever got on the golf course, shooting a 5-under-par 65, tied for the third-lowest round of the championship with Fred Funk (1-under 209). Loren Roberts carded a record-setting 8-under 62 and Andy Bean shot a 6-under 64.

"From my perspective, I think I got it back in position where if the guys don't go low today, maybe (I can) go out and get another low round. You never know what can happen," said Thorpe.

Thorpe, 57, played in the sixth group Saturday. Watson was in the 31^st and final pairing with Mark James four-and-a-half hours later. The fact that no one 10 back has ever won the Senior Open doesn't mean it can't be done.

"It just takes the right mentality and a good attitude," said Des Smyth, who shot even par while paired with Thorpe.

In truth, to play so early in the day with little chance to win requires mind games and the requisite

Jim Thorpe follows the flight of his ball on No. 16 Saturday during his 5-under round. (Steve Gibbons/USGA)

amount of professionalism. There is still money to be won. There are still goals that can be set and achieved. Early starters can't just play out the string.

But at least Thorpe was among the 54 players within that 10-shot margin. Seven men went out before him who made the cut on the number, 7 over par. They started 11 shots behind Watson, one more than the somewhat arbitrary deficit still deemed to be worthy of remaining in the event.

How do they approach moving day? How do they stay motivated?

"I'm sure everyone looks at things a little bit differently," said first-time Senior Open participant Rod Spittle, 50, who teed off with Hubert Green in the day's fourth group. "Me, I was just happy to be walking the fairways on the weekend and playing with Hubert, who was a great partner. I just tried to score the best that I could, that's all."

Veteran Champions Tour player Walter Hall, who shot 69 Saturday, said he tried not to believe he was out of it. "You don't worry about where you are, what place you're in," Hall, 59, said. "You're trying to get your score somewhere back around par, because in this event that usually is a decent place to be.

"What you really need on a day like today," Hall added, "is to have a round like Jim Thorpe."

Green said sitting so far down the leaderboard does not give a player the license to attack with impunity. The mentality might change a little, a player far back might take a few more chances, but there's no flipping a switch and hoping to light up the scoreboard.

"You can't really make yourself make a move," he said. "The golfing gods won't let you do that. It can be done, but it can't be forced."

"All you can do," Larry Nelson said in all sincerity, "is take it one shot at a time."

Chris Starkjohann, 50, who also made the cut in his first Senior Open, wasn't trying to be overly ambitious when he began the day. He set a reasonable goal for himself, one that quickly escaped his reach after he started with a triple-bogey that led to a 76.

"I began the day four shots out of the top 15 (the top 25 and ties earn an invitation for 2007)," he said. "My goal was to build toward getting back in this tournament next year. Anything above that was a bonus. I didn't get it done today, but that is going to be my thinking again tomorrow. It's all about setting a goal at the start of the day."

Even if the goal isn't winning, at least it's something for a competitor – and they are all competitors deep down – to shoot for when the trophy is out of range.

Dave Shedloski is a freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio, whose work has appeared previously on www.ussernioropen.com.