Columnist Peter Benton: Watson to debut on Senior PGA Tour

Peter Benton

Wednesday, Aug. 18, 1999 | 9:56 a.m.

Peter Benton's golf column appears Wednesday.

Hale Irwin, Larry Nelson, Allen Doyle, et al, along with Senior PGA Tour rookies Bruce Fleisher and Christy O'Connor, Jr., are going to be facing some serious challenges and challengers in the very near future.

That's because Tom Watson, the winner of 34 PGA Tour events and five British Opens, will be making his Senior PGA Tour debut at the Comfort Classic next month.

His appearance in Indianapolis marks the first of two consecutive Senior Tour starts for Watson, who will also play the following week at the inaugural Bank One Championship in Dallas.

"I can't wait to start playing, and I plan to hit the ground running," said Watson, who turns 50 Sept. 4.

Not only is Watson making his debut this year but Doug Tewell, winner of four Tour events, is eligible to join the circuit at the Kansas City Classic at Tiffany Greens the first week of September.

To make matters worse for Irwin, Nelson, Doyle, Fleisher and O'Connor, Larry Wadkins turns 50 on Dec. 5 and Tom Kite on Dec. 9. That's too late for this year's tour but you know they will come out swinging in 2000.

Other players in the wings and already honing their game for when their turn arrives are: Andy North, March 9; Rex Caldwell, May 5; Jim Simons, May 15; and Bob Gilder, Dec. 31.

Incidentally, Arnold Palmer (1980 PGA Seniors Championship), Gary Player (1985 Quadel Senior Classic) and Jack Nicklaus (1990 Tradition) won their first Senior Tour starts.

* ADULT-JUNIOR: Last week's Adult-Junior Golf Tournament played by members of the Las Vegas Country Club was a Pinehurst Scotch foursome event. Both partners tee off on each hole, select the desired drive and then hit alternate shots thereafter until the ball is holed.

Overall winner with a low gross score of 2-under 70 was the father-daughter pairing of Gerald and Julie Dunn. The low net victor at 58 was another father-daughter team, Larry and Jacque Haas.

Steve and Jimmy Burris won the Red Hot Chili Peppers flight (9-under) with a low gross score of 45. Low net went to Cy Wilcox and Graham Bowers at 36.

Coe and Jeremy Power's 85 was good enough to win low gross in The Doors flight (10-12). Low net went to Jack Libby and Chris Landers with a score of 67.

Guns 'n' Roses flight winners (13-17) were Paula and Dina Wallin at 86. Bob and Matt Unger garnered low net with a 62.

Bob Frusco partnered Derek Ashworth to victory in the Rolling Stones flight, coming in with a gross score of 75. Winning low net with 70.5 was Allen Brewster and Ryan Hamilton.

Gary and Mark Ashworth's 70 took low gross in The Beatles flight (21-over). Low net went to George and Jennifer Jablon. Their score was 60.5.