It’s a Worthwhile Day for the Runners-Up : Golf: Perry and Blake get in a dry run in preparation for PGA Championship in August.

Finishing second is never pleasant for a professional athlete, but Kenny Perry and Jay Don Blake found some good Sunday at Riviera Country Club after coming up three shots short of winner Corey Pavin in the Nissan L.A. Open.

As far as they are concerned--along with their runner-up checks for $105,600--the 72 holes played there provided an excellent dry run for the PGA Championships, which also will be played on the venerable Pacific Palisades course next August.

“Putting is so difficult here, with the ball breaking toward the canyon on some holes and toward the ocean on others, it takes a lot of learning,” Perry said, after finishing with a 71 for a 271 total. “I know what I learned this week will help me in the PGA. It seems like the balls are always breaking a different way from the way they look. It’s something that has to be learned.”

It wasn’t Perry’s putter, however, that cost him a chance to win his second consecutive PGA Tour event after he won the Bob Hope Classic last week. It was a wild five-iron shot from the fairway on the 420-yard 13th hole that sailed out of bounds that knocked him from serious contention.

“I had 178 yards downhill into the wind and I got a little greedy,” he said. “I came over the top (with his swing) and took a little off it. It was a tough lesson because it pretty well let all the air out of my balloon.”

Perry was in second place, only two shots behind Pavin, when it happened.

“It was the only bad swing I had all day,” Perry said.

Blake, who hasn’t had the success Perry has experienced this season, looked on his 69 on Sunday and 271 total as a confidence builder for not only the PGA but also the tournaments leading to the Masters.

“The first part of the year had been frustrating for me,” Blake said. “I played well all four days. I haven’t done that for some time.”

Blake was the only player other than Pavin without a round in the 70s. He had consistent scores of 69, 67, 66 and 69.

In his five previous 1995 outings, the former NCAA champion from Utah State missed the cut at Hawaii, tied for 41st at both Tucson and Phoenix, tied for 16th at San Diego and missed the cut at the Bob Hope.

His total earnings of $24,417 were less than a quarter of what he picked up at Riviera.

“My biggest disappointment in not catching Corey was that after my first three rounds I was confident I could win, and I hoped I would so I could get back in the Masters,” Blake said. “I want to go to Augusta, but I’ve got to win one to get there this year.”

Blake didn’t win, but he had one of the day’s most interesting rounds with five birdies and three bogeys.

“When I jumped out with birdies on the first two holes, I thought I had the momentum going, but the bogey on No. 3 slowed me down,” he said. “I learned some good lessons. You’ve got to hit the ball well to get around Riviera and you’d better know how to use your putter.

“These greens were really tricky and I know by the time the PGA comes around in the summer, they’ll be harder and faster.”

The PGA will be played at Riviera Aug. 10-13.