Hill Definitely Is Not Out, He’s In--the Lead

The computer scratched Dave Hill from the second round of the senior division of the Tournament of Champions Friday at La Costa.

It was a bit premature. Despite a painful tendon injury in his right elbow, the first-round co-leader not only played, he took over sole possession of first place by a stroke over Miller Barber. Hill shot a par 72 for a 36-hole total of 140.

Barber, leading most of the round, finished with four 5s, losing three strokes to par. The man formerly known as Mr. X was in no mood to be interviewed.

One stroke back of Barber were Al Geiberger, who shot a 69, and Orville Moody. Opening-round co-leader Billy Casper had putting problems and was at 143 with Bruce Crampton, who also had a 69. The best round among the 12 players in the 50-and-over group was a 68 by Larry Mowry, who moved into contention despite an opening 76.

Hill wasn’t sure whether he would make it to the first tee for today’s third round of the 72-hole tournament but said he thought he could if he could find some phenylbutazone.

“If I can get some strong pain medicine, they’re in trouble,” he said.

Phenylbutazone is an anti-inflammatory substance often used on race horses.

“If I can find some of that, I’ll probably do the mile in 1:30 and a fraction,” he said as he sipped a beer he was holding in his left hand.

The elbow problem first flared during the Kaanapali Seniors tournament in Hawaii in early December. Hill was reaching for a club in his bag when “something popped.

“It didn’t really start hurting until after the tournament was over. Then the pain was mostly in the upper arm. It was diagnosed as a tendon injury and they gave me Butazolidin (a brand of phenylbutazone).

“But a couple of days ago, Dr. Frank Jobe looked at it. He said it was probably a bone chip. I will have it X-rayed when I get home.

“I didn’t do anything for three weeks until I came here and it felt pretty good until I finished my round yesterday.

“Somebody told me to put ice on it last night. That may have been the wrong thing to do. Tonight, I think I’ll find a better use for ice.”

The pain became sharp Friday morning when Hill tried to warm up. Fortunately, the Centinela Hospital Fitness Center, which accompanies all the PGA tours, was at hand.

Hill received ultra-sound treatment and 600 milligrams of a pain-killer.

“I really didn’t know what would happen when I went to the first tee,” Hill said. “I felt a twinge on my drive but from then until the 17th, it didn’t hurt. But, for the last two holes I couldn’t lift my right arm. You just can’t get the ball in the air if you can’t take a full swing with your right arm.

“You can’t punch it, either, because that’s all done with the right side. On 17, I came over the top with a 5-iron and had to get down in two putts from 60 feet to save par. I also scrambled on 18 to finish the round. I knew I could play the last two holes with one arm, but not a whole round that way.”

Unless a spectator was walking around and saw the hand-held score card or saw Hill’s score on the manually run score cards, Hill’s play was a mystery. Apparently an over-zealous programmer heard about the injury and thought Hill was out of the tournament. He deleted Hill and they can’t get him back into the computer until they program it again today.

After qualifying for the regular tour in 1958, Hill became known as something of an outlaw. He was outspoken and was suspended and fined several times.

Most of the old-timers have mellowed on the senior tour. So far, the more relaxed attitude seems to have mellowed Hill, too, even though he is one of the youngsters.

He did not become eligible until last May 20, but won a tournament and $232,189. In 19 tempestuous years on the regular tour, his best was 1969, when he earned $156,423.

“I would have done even better last year, except I had a bad second round in almost every tournament,” Hill said. “With most of the tournaments only 54 holes, it was nearly disastrous. Throughout my career when I was leading going into the final round, I have won.”

A par on this second round compares very favorably to three 74s, two 75s, a 76 and a 79 last year, but, with two more rounds to go, it may depend on how the elbow responds to treatment.

The weather may also be a factor. The first two days were almost perfect for golf. But rain started falling late Friday afternoon, and more was expected.