LEGENDS OF GOLF : Ailments Don’t Slow Team of Trevino, Mike Hill

Even when they are ailing, and no matter where it’s played, Lee Trevino and Mike Hill are usually the team to beat in the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf.

Trevino, who had complicated neck surgery last fall, and Hill, whose back problems forced him out of the two previous Senior PGA Tour events, apparently benefited from the desert sun this week.

Playing team golf to perfection, they took the lead for good with a birdie on the 13th hole Sunday and went on to a comfortable victory. Their 54-hole total over the rugged Stadium Course at PGA West was a sensational 21-under-par 195. With a 32 on the back nine, they posted a seven-under 65 on the final round to split $200,000 and win by two strokes.

Gibby Gilbert sank a 35-foot birdie putt on 18 to break a five-way tie, and he and J.C. Snead split the $100,000 second-place money with a 197. The group one shot back included Chi Chi Rodriguez and Jim Dent, who had a final round 64, Bob Murphy-Jim Colbert, Bobby Nichols-Dave Hill (Mike’s older brother) and Tony Jacklin-Bob Charles.

It was the third time Trevino and Hill teamed to win the better-ball tournament. In 1991 they were 36 under in Texas and the next year they were 37 below par and repeated. In 1993 it was an individual event. Last year, with Trevino already suffering neck pains, they finished fifth behind Dale Douglass and Charles Coody.

There were rumors early in the week that Trevino would have to find a new partner. Last week, Hill withdrew after two rounds in the PGA Seniors’ Championship, and the week before in The Tradition, his chronic back tightened after the first round.

Although Trevino has been playing regularly on the tour, his neck hurts if he over-swings, and he has been lacking his usual power.

“We won because I had the greatest partner,” Trevino said. “Mike carried us for 45 holes, then the law of averages caught up and I made five birdies on the back nine.

“But we wouldn’t have been close without Mike. I made only three birdies in 45 holes. Mike made 15, including three on the front side today.

“I feel we won it on the 190-yard 13th hole and again Mike deserves the credit. He was on, so I could go for the flag. I hooked a five-iron in there eight feet from the pin.

“It was nice to win, but with all the problems I’ve had, it feels good just to be able to play. This is the first time in a long time I’ve played three rounds without pain.”

Hill missed an eight-footer and a 10-footer on the first two holes Sunday and blamed Trevino for putting too much pressure on him.

“He told me we had to have eight birdies today to win,” Hill said, “and added he expected me to make all eight.”

As Gilbert and Snead, the leaders at 15 under after two rounds, came to 18, there was a jam for second place.

“I knew that if I made my 35-footer, it would be worth a lot of money,” Gilbert said, “so I knocked it in.”

Orville Moody and Jimmy Powell, who won the Legendary division Saturday, were among those who made a run at winning the Legends. Going to the seventh hole they were only one shot out of the lead, but both hit into the water and the team had a double bogey, tantamount to elimination in this type of competition.

Although he made several good shots, Sam Snead and partner Johnny Bulla finished far back in the Demaret division, the competition for 70-and-older pros. Tommy Bolt and Jack Fleck, who add up to only 150 years compared to 163 for the Snead duo, shot a nine-under 135 to win by two strokes.

Arnold Palmer, so disgusted by an 85 last week in the PGA that he threatened to retire, and Tom Wargo teamed for a final-round 65.