Columnist Victoria Sun: North to play in Classic

Victoria Sun

Thursday, April 20, 2000 | 10:33 a.m.

Victoria Sun's golf notebook appears weekly. Reach her at 259-4078 or victoria@lasvegassun.com.

About seven years ago, Andy North decided that his body and mind had had enough so he stopped playing full-time on the PGA Tour.

He rattled off the injuries that have troubled him since he turned pro in 1972 as if he were reading a grocery list.

"Six knee operations, a neck and elbow operation, skin cancer," he fired rapidly. "The last 10 years I played, I didn't play the way I wanted to play and I was miserable playing.

"Quitting came at good time."

But as the two-time U.S. Open champion approached his 50th birthday on March 9, thoughts of returning to the game via the Senior PGA Tour took over.

"Anytime you get close to getting 50, you start thinking about that," North acknowledged. "The senior tour has given people a lot of chances.

"It's such a great opportunity. I figured I've got to do it now when I'm still able to compete. It's nice to be able to play golf again."

North was granted an exemption into the Las Vegas Senior Classic that starts Friday at the TPC at Summerlin.

Since he traded in his clubs in 1993 for a microphone to become an analyst for ESPN, he has played in only a handful of tournaments.

But just 10 days after his 50th birthday, North teamed with Las Vegan Jim Colbert to win the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf.

"That was a great week, a perfect week to start in a partnership type of deal, in a little bit more relaxed atmosphere than normal," North said. "Jim's a great partner, he putts beautifully and hits the ball well.

"You work hard and try to prepare yourself, but you don't know what's going to happen. We decided I was going to hit first because I was going to be a little more nervous than he was. I hit a couple of shots, birdied the first hole, then Jim said, 'I think you're ready.' It was a perfect way to get the week started."

North said he enjoyed the time he spent watching and analyzing the game because he learned a lot.

Lessons included the value of being patient on the course, why there's no need to force your shot when things aren't going well and why it's not necessary to hit a perfect shot every time.

"My attitude wasn't always very good when I was playing," he said. "I hope it's improved now.

"I'm trying to have fun, enjoy the golf and the whole scene. It's only been a few weeks, but so far it's been great."

* TWITTY'S TOES: A bad back didn't almost end Howard Twitty's Senior PGA Tour career four years ago, but bad bunions did. Because of his bunions, hammer toes, rebuilt arches and transplanted tendons, Twitty endured much pain and suffering when wearing conventional golf spikes.

After seeing many foot specialists and trying to find a pair of comfortable golf shoes, Twitty settled on a pair of open-toed sandals made by Bite Footwear that he saw another golfer wearing on the course one day.

Twitty's four-day total of 292 put him in a tie for 33rd during last year's Senior Classic and he will be back this weekend, Moses sandals and all.

* BLOWN AWAY: Shirts and pants puffed up like parachutes, caps flew and bags got knocked over as a result of the winds that blasted the handful of golfers on the practice range at the TPC Summerlin on Tuesday.

The harsh conditions didn't stop Senior PGA Tour rookie Lanny Wadkins from practicing with his swing coach, Chris Walkey. Wadkins hit balls for nearly two hours despite the fact that almost every one else gave up.

* IN AND OUT: Jim Dent and Tom McGinnis withdrew from the Senior Classic. They will be replaced by Walter Zembriski and Frank Conner.