Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, September 20, 1995 TAG: 9509200038
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK
DATELINE: HOT SPRINGS LENGTH: Medium
``I do like being home,'' Snead said. ``I just don't play much golf here. I hit balls, but I don't play. I come home to hunt, fish and mess around with the guys.''
What the man with the very apropos camouflage golf bag doesn't like is having to stay home, and that's where Snead has spent most of his time since defeating Jack Nicklaus in a playoff for the Ford Senior Players championship in mid-July.
Snead was contending for the Senior PGA Tour money lead until he fractured two ribs on his right side. He's still sixth on the winnings list with $846,756 in official money in his best pro year, but it's not what it might have been.
``I fell off a motorcycle,'' Snead said sheepishly Tuesday before teeing off in the $500,000 Merrill Lynch Senior Shoot-Out Championship at the Cascades course. ``It happened up on the mountain. I was flying down the road doing about 2 mph.
``I was trying to park, but, I could have done that walking down the steps, I guess. It wasn't really a wreck. It was just a real heavy bike, and it slid out from under me on some gravel.''
Snead was a gracious hometown host to nine fellow Senior tourists at The Homestead, which was holding its first televised PGA Tour event. The Cascades, which drew raves from the competitors, isn't as familiar to Snead as some might think.
When he played in the sponsor's pro-am round at Virginia's top-ranked course Monday, it was his first Cascades round since 1993, Snead said.
He returned to the Senior Tour three weeks ago, after sitting home for six weeks. For five of those, ``I never went to bed,'' he said. ``I had to sleep in a recliner.''
Snead said the sorce ribs haven't affected his swing. It's a loss of tempo that's diminished his returns since his return.
``It seems like I don't have any coordination or timing,'' said Snead, who has two Senior Tour victories this year. ``I really don't know what it is. If I knew, I'd fix it.
``It's like [what] most people go through when they lay off. You usually play good when you first start back and then you do. I hope it comes back by next week [at the $1.5 million Vantage Championship]. I'd like to play well there.
``The main thing right now is my driver. I'm not hitting it very solid. ... I feel like there's something missing under there [the ribs]. I'm sure all of the muscles atrophied. I have to be careful. It does hurt a little when I bend over.''
Until the injury, Snead was as hot as his Shoot-Out sweater was red. He had four seconds to go with two victories, and was in the top 10 in half of his 18 tournaments.
``It's very disappointing, but you accept things for what they are,'' he said. ``There's no point in complaining or worrying about it.''
Snead, who finished fifth in the Shoot-Out won by Dave Stockton, said his improved scoring has come on the greens. He's fifth on the over-50 tour in greens in regulation.
``I've been putting a little better this year, too,'' said Snead, who posted eight PGA tour victories before moving to the Senior circuit in October 1990. ``Overall, my game is better, but putting is the big difference. A couple of more putts per round is the difference between finishing in the top 10 and not.
``It's practice. I've always practiced a lot, and I've always enjoyed practicing. I still do. There are a lot of days I'd sooner hit balls than play.
``Somebody told me a long time ago that you just get out of it what you put in. It's a good thing I'm getting something out of it, because I have put a lot in.''
Snead's finish in the nine-hole Shoot-Out came on No.14, when his tee shot went into a gallery - about 2,000, very large by this event's history - and he didn't get the home-course advantage he needed.
``I didn't think I hit it that bad,'' he said, smiling. ``I was hoping somebody would kick it out for me. ... Yeah, someone always says they're going to kick it, but no one ever does.''
by CNB