Floyd Partial To Location Of 72-Hole Senior Event

Raymond Floyd believes the Tournament Players Championship layout is suited to his game.

Floyd, who once dominated the Senior PGA tour, won only once last year. That win came at Dearborn, Mich., in the Senior Players Championship. He begins defense of the title today on the same course in one of the Senior circuit’s rare 72-hole events.

“I have a positive feeling, coming back to a course I’ve already won at,” Floyd said. “There’s a comfort level. You get some confidence, even if you’re not playing well.”

Still, there is more to it than that.

Floyd’s powerful game fell off because of an injured right hip. He seldom talks about it because he doesn’t want to make excuses.

“You’ve never heard me talk about it, because I don’t want to make an issue of it,” Floyd said. “When I go to a golf course or a tournament, I’m there to play and I don’t want to make an issue of other things.”

The injury occurred during the 1995 U.S. Senior Open at Congressional.

“It was the 10th hole when I felt the pain,” he said. “It was downhill after that.”

Well, almost.

Floyd managed a two-stroke victory over Hale Irwin in the 1996 Senior Players Championship, earning $225,000. Overall, Floyd had 16 top-10 finishes and won more than $1 million on the 1996 money list. It was his third straight year over $1 million on the Senior tour.

This year’s winner will collect $270,000.

Meyer field filled

Fred Couples, Jim Furyk, Davis Love III and Scott Hoch have agreed to play in the Fred Meyer Challenge golf tournament Aug. 3-5 in Portland, rounding out the 24-player field, tournament organizers announced.

The tournament will be at the Oregon Golf Club.

Couples, ranked 45th on the PGA Tour money list, has missed only one year of the last 11 in the tournament. Hoch is sixth on the money list this year. It will be his first Fred Meyer competition.

Others who will play include Greg Norman, ranked No. 2 in the world, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Fuzzy Zoeller and Gary Nicklaus.

Daniel to miss Open

Beth Daniel and Lauri Merten have withdrawn from this week’s U.S. Women’s Open in North Plains, Ore.

Daniel, who would qualify for the LPGA Hall of Fame with a victory in one of the four major tournaments, including the U.S. Open, dropped out because of a shoulder injury.

Merten, who won the 1993 U.S. Women’s Open with birdies on two of the final three holes, has not played in the last five LPGA tournaments and has finished no better than a tie for 56th in the seven tournaments she has played.

The U.S. Golf Association said Merten is traveling in Europe.

Daly staying home

John Daly, who has been battling alcoholism, has withdrawn from next week’s Britsh Open, saying his “personal health” would not allow him to play.

Daly, winner of the 1995 British, explained his decision in a brief letter to Royal and Ancient Club secretary Michael Bonallack.

“This letter shall serve as my formal withdrawal from the 1997 British Open,” Daly said. “I am saddened and disappointed not to be in the British Open this year, but my personal health and well being require me to be elsewhere.

“I look forward to returning next year.”

Daly underwent alcohol rehabilitation for the second time in four years after a drinking binge at the Players Championship in March.