Greater Hartford was turning point for Browne

The gallery at this week's Greater Hartford Open could get a glimpse of something familiar -- 11 past champions -- and something quite new -- caddies' bare legs.

The $2.5 million GHO begins Thursday at the TPC at River Highlands and has a field that boasts five of the tour's top money winners, including David Duval. This year's first prize is $450,000.

Defending champ Olin Browne will try to become the tournament's first back-to-back winner. Last year's win was Browne's first on the tour since turning pro in 1984. Tied with Larry Mize and 1997 champ Stewart Cink, Browne chipped in on the first playoff hole for the win and pocketed $360,000.

While fans will be seeing some of the same faces, they may witness a new look from caddies.

The PGA Tour approved a test period beginning with this past weekend's John Deere Classic in Illinois. Shorts must be khakis and would only be worn when the heat index, a gauge of temperature and humidity, rises above 100.

The change applies only to male caddies, who have been required to wear trousers when on club property.

"We haven't decided to allow it," said John Morris, vice president of communication for the PGA Tour. "The idea is to give us a chance to see how well it works, how it looks, the player reaction and the caddie reaction."

Even though Browne looked good last year in Hartford, he looks back on 1998 with mixed feelings.

"It was a weird year," Browne said. "There was the extreme high in winning my first tournament and an extreme low when I had to have my arm repaired surgically. There were times in the healing stages when I wasn't certain I was going to get better. The process is so slow."

It all came together for him a few months later at the Colonial in May in Forth Worth, Texas. He shot a 4-under 66 in the final round to earn his second title on tour. The win came a day after he turned 40. He said he was told life begins at 40.

"Golf is the one athletic endeavor where you're not washed up by the time you're 35," Browne said. "There are some great baseball players that hang on past that, an occasional football player, like Warren Moon. I am very fortunate to play the game that allows me to continue to be a professional at a late stage in my life."

Wire