Bruce Fleisher
has been nearly unbeatable on the Senior PGA Tour this year. Hubert Green has
struggled to stay on leaderboards. Though they've taken different paths, the old
buddies ended up in the same spot Friday.
Fleisher and Green were co-leaders after the first round of the Transamerica seniors
tournament, shooting 6-under 66s on a warm, wind-free day. They held a 1-shot
lead over Dale Douglass, Howard Twitty and Walter Hall in an event that includes
nine of the top 10 money-winners on the senior tour this year.
Fleisher has five victories and leads the money list with $1.95 million in his
first year on the tour, after a mostly undistinguished PGA Tour career that featured
just one title in more than 400 events.
He rolled in a 6-foot putt for an eagle 3 on the 18th hole, and had four birdies
Friday. Fleisher said he has no explanation for his success this year, and never
expected such a run.
"Every
time you play well, it just gives you lots of confidence. And that's what this
game is all about," Fleisher said. "I don't think our golf swings change that
much. It's just that success breeds success."
Green, whose 19 wins on the PGA Tour included titles in the 1977 U.S. Open and
the 1985 PGA Championship, has not had similar success on the senior tour. He
has just one victory in four years, and has not finished in the top three of any
event this year.
He puts less emphasis than Fleisher on the mental part of golf.
"Confidence
is great, but it's based on your swing. If your swing is good, you'll have confidence,"
said Green, who made a 40-foot birdie putt on No. 3 Friday. "I'm hitting the ball
better than I have been in a long time."
Jim Colbert, defending champion of the $1.1 million event, finished with a 3-under
69.
But Hale Irwin,
the career money leader on the senior tour, was at 4-over 76 - his worst round
of the year. And Fred Gibson, who got his first tournament title last week at
the Vantage Championship in North Carolina, also struggled to a 76 in the first
round.
Fleisher
entered the weekend with a slim lead on the money list over Irwin, who has $1.92
million this year. Fleisher is trying to become the first rookie to lead the senior
tour in earnings since Lee Trevino in 1990.
"I'll
be quite frank with you, I'm gunning for that money title," Fleisher said. "I'm
playing the rest of the year for the money lead."
