Golf: Giving hope to hackers

Richard Dunn

If Allen Doyle can do it with his awkward-looking abbreviated

backswing, it might give us all hope.

Life for winners on the Senior PGA Tour is good. And for guys like

Doyle, an amateur from Georgia most of his career whom no one knew prior

to his arrival on the 50-and-over circuit, it’s even better.

“To look back, (from) four years (ago), and have $4 million in career

earnings (on the Senior Tour), yeah, I might be a little surprised,”

Doyle said Monday during Media Day at Newport Beach Country Club, which

will host the seventh annual Toshiba Senior Classic Feb. 26 through March

4.

Doyle, the event’s defending champion, developed his unorthodox swing

from practicing in a low-ceiling basement as a youngster in

Massachusetts.

“Yeah, I don’t have any swing guru,” quipped Doyle, using finger-sign

quotation marks as he emphasized swing guru.

“I often joked that if (renowned golf instructor David) Leadbetter, or

whoever else is the swing guy, if they were at the end of the range and

were surveying who they might want to work with, I’d be the last one they

would pick.”

Prior to Doyle becoming the official 2000 Toshiba Classic winner when

the final round was rained out, he figured he had a shot after Saturday’s

second round.

After Doyle birdied 17 to get to 5-under and tie for the lead, Joe

Inman, who was playing in his group, said to Doyle: “You need a birdie

(at 18), because we’re not going to play (Sunday).”

Doyle birdied 18 and captured his fifth Senior Tour title the next day

when inclement weather canceled the final 18 holes.

Doyle said he doesn’t set long-term goals, but one thing’s almost

certain: You won’t catch him playing the Super Senior Tour for the

60-and-over crowd when he becomes eligible on July 26, 2008.

“(Toshiba Classic Tournament Director) Jeff (Purser) and I were

talking a little bit about the Super Seniors and why some don’t know when

to quit,” Doyle said. “I’ll have more fun playing back home with the guys

than I would shooting 75 out here.

“When you see my stroke average get up to 74 or 75, you probably won’t

see me out here. And I hope that comes later than sooner.”

Premature? ... A large color advertisement prominently placed in the

January issue of Orange County Golf Magazine features a color picture of

Doyle holding the Toshiba Classic’s crystal winner’s trophy.

Only problem is that it says 2001 Toshiba Senior Classic champion.

Tom Watson, among those who committed early to the tournament and who

will play Newport Beach Country Club for the first time, is this year’s

keynote speaker at the $100-a-plate Deloitte & Touche Community Breakfast

at the Newport Beach Marriott (Fashion Island) Feb. 27.

Watson will speak to a breakfast audience that is traditionally

entertained by Hoag Hospital doctors taking the podium.

After the breakfast, Watson will invite businessmen to remove their

ties and watch the Cadillac Walking Clinic. Watson will be miked up and

play three holes, taking several shots and giving lessons for anybody in

attendance.

“He’ll talk about how he’ll hit certain shots and give tips on course

management,” Purser said. “I think it will be really fun for the golf fan

who wants to learn more. There will be a lot of interaction.”

Purser said the clinic will last about 90 minutes. Details: (949)

515-4840.

Richard Dunn’s golf column appears every Thursday.