Strange Doings in Desert : Golf: Two-time Open champion shoots 65 for one-shot lead over Couples, Elkington, Haas, Fehr and Rummells.

By MAL FLORENCE

Feb. 12, 1993 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

LA QUINTA —

Brett Ogle won the Pebble Beach tournament last week with rounds of 68-68-69-71, 12 under par. He isn’t playing here this week, but if he were, those same numbers at the four desert courses would leave him far back in the pack at the end of the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic.

Low rounds are commonplace in the Hope and form held up Thursday on another clear, relatively warm day.

Curtis Strange emerged as the second-round leader by shooting a 65 at Indian Wells for a 36-hole score of 131, 13 under.

Steve Elkington shot a course-record-tying 63 at the Palmer Course at PGA West and is one stroke behind Strange.

Dave Rummells, the first-round leader, and Fred Couples, Rick Fehr and Jay Haas are also a stroke off the lead.

“If you shoot 68 at Pebble, you pass 30 guys,” Fehr said.

But a 68 here on the birdie-yielding courses is merely an average round.

With three rounds left, the tournament record of 29 under set in 1991 by Corey Pavin and Mark O’Meara could be threatened.

Strange has been struggling since he won the U.S Open for the second consecutive year in 1989. He hasn’t won since, and last year he slumped to 99th on the money list.

He had an equilibrium problem, but tests failed to diagnose any specific illness.

In any event, he was back on his game Thursday with eight birdies and a bogey.

“I felt I should have made every putt,” Strange said. “The desert courses are more suited to my game. The greens are so good.”

Strange, regarded as one of the world’s best players before his slump, is rededicating himself this year. He has always been known as an intense competitor.

“So far, so good, but you’d like an eight-shot lead,” he said. “You’re never satisfied.”

Elkington, an Australian who lives in Houston, said he played “unbelievably” in shooting his 63.

“I hit every shot down the middle and I had a laser on my iron shots. It’s one of the best rounds I’ve played,” he said.

Elkington, 29, had an outstanding season in 1992. He won the Tournament of Champions at La Costa and had six top-three finishes while earning $746,352.

He said he traded putters with Gary McCord, a part-time tour player and television analyst--adding that there is no way that McCord will ever get the putter back.

Elkington had seven birdies and an eagle in his round after starting on the 10th hole.

He got the eagle when he hit two drivers on the 560-yard sixth hole and made a 20-foot putt.

Elkington was a shot off the lead after three rounds here last year, then faltered with rounds of 73 and 74 and tied for 38th place.

He said he was often between clubs last week at Pebble Beach, but he always had the right club in his hands on Thursday.

On three of his birdies, he hit short irons to within a foot of the cup.

As for his old putter, he said he literally shot the head of it off with a .45 and it’s now at the bottom of a lake.

Fehr, who shot a 66 at Bermuda Dunes, said that every hole is a birdie opportunity here.

Last year he had to shoot a 63 merely to get into a five-man playoff that was won by John Cook.

Haas, who won the Hope tournament in 1988, shot a 66 at Indian Wells.

“I have a different attitude here,” he said. “I feel I have to birdie every hole.”

Haas said he is not a long hitter, but the par-fives are reachable for him.

In this shootout in the desert, there are 28 players within four shots of the lead, including Cook, who played at Tamarisk. He shot a 67 for a 36-hole total of 133.

Golf Notes

Jay Haas said that Steve Elkington played nine holes at the Vintage club after his round Wednesday. He was playing in street shoes and using women’s irons and a borrowed driver. “He birdied 11 through 17 and shot a 29,” Haas said. “He has a foolproof swing to me. It’s just like, tee it up and get out of his way.”

BOB HOPE GOLF

LEADERS Curtis Strange: 66-65--131

Steve Elkington: 69-63--132

Rick Fehr: 66-66--132

Jay Haas: 66-66--132

Dave Rummells: 63-69--132

Fred Couples: 68-64--132

Bob Estes: 67-66--133

John Cook: 66-67--133

Scott Gump: 68-65--133

Eight are tied at 134

OTHERS Tom Kite: 67-67--134