THE CANADIAN PRESS
BLAINVILLE, Que. — Tom Wargo didn’t have the large galleries that followed stars like Fred Couples and Tom Lehman, but the man with the white moustache stole the show in the opening round of the US$1.8 million Montreal Championship.
The 67-year-old shot a seven-under-par 65 to share the lead with Russ Cochran as the Champions Tour players lit up the wide open 7,070-yard, par 72 course at the Fontainebleau Golf Club on Friday.
Players were impressed at the estimated crowd of 12,000, much larger than at most senior events and which Cochran compared to the throng at last year’s U.S. Senior in Indianapolis.
Wargo, a self-taught player who spent most of his career as a club pro in Centralia, Ill., achieved a fairly rare golfing feat — shooting his age or lower. It was the first time he did it in an official tournament, although he said he made it four times previously in smaller events.
"All you’re trying to do is put a score on the board and whatever it is, if it’s low and matches your age, that’s something to yap about, I guess," Wargo said with a wide grin. "It’s nice to have one on the board because I haven’t been playing very good.
"I’m going to retire. The I’m going to plant a tomato patch and a few watermelons and some sweet corn."
Jay Don Blake, John Cook, Tom Purtzer, Joey Sindelar, Jay Haas and James Mason were a shot back at 66 and another seven players were at 67. Only 10 in the 78-man field were over par in warm, sunny weather on a course that drew raves reviews for the near perfect condition of its greens.
Wargo’s bogey-free round was his lowest since 2007 and tied the course record. He has four Champions Tour wins, including the 1993 PGA Senior Open, but hasn’t won since 2000.
"I haven’t been playing really good in the last three or four years," he said. "Fiddling around trying to make beer money is all I’m trying to do.
"I’ve been slacking off and dropping my schedule down because at 67, you’re going down that other side of the hill pretty fast and I want to do some other things with my life before I hit the bottom. I found out there’s two parts to life — young and skinny, and old and fat. So take it from there."
It was an apt metaphor for the Harley Davidson motorcycle enthusiast and no one was happier for him than 51-year-old Cochran, who recalled caddying a few times for Wargo at tournaments in Kentucky.
"What I member about Tom is how he loved to play golf," said Cochran. "We had a tournament there and you could call Tom and say ‘It’s going to cost you $100 to get in and you can only win $200, but do you want to come?’ He’d say ‘Yeah, I’ll be there.’ He has a good, hearty personality and he had a good time after the round."
Wargo only played a handful of PGA Tour events before joining the seniors, but Cook said he is one of the non-PGA regulars he "thoroughly enjoys" being around.
"He’s 67-years-old and he looks like he could take all of us into a room and beat us to a pulp," Cook said with a laugh. "I love him.
"And to see him not only matching his age but blowing right by it — where else in the world could you see that happen?"
Corey Pavin, who last Sunday was a stroke from winning a PGA Tour event but lost in a playoff to Bubba Watson, was at 4-under 68 while Couples, the Champions Tour money leader with three wins in his rookie year, was at 69.
The top Canadian Daniel Talbot of St-Basile, Que., was at 70, while Jim Rutledge of Victoria shot 71, and Yvan Beauchemin of Trois-Rivieres, Que., had 72. Dave Barr of Kelowna, B.C. shot 74.
More low scores are expected Saturday and Sunday in hot, sunny weather.
Cook said a quick start was essential in a three-day tournament where the field is not cut for the weekend.
"If you put yourself behind you have only two days to make it up," he said. "You know you have to hit 12-15 under par, so you have to pay attention to what you’re doing."
It helps that the Fontainebleau greens are "the perfect speed to make putts. You can be semi-aggressive. It’s kind of a recipe for low scores."
Cochran had his own take on the low scoring.
"The fairways are probably a little too generous," he said. "That’s going to push scores way down. The golf course is in perfect shape."
He cautioned that it is only the first of at least three years (plus two option years) the Montreal Championship will be played and that Tour staff will likely "massage" the track to make it a little tougher next year.
There was a relaxed atmosphere on the course, and Peter Jacobsen had some fun when players were asked to wait and cross a public road together between the second and third holes.
"I’ve never cross the street alone — I’m always holding someone’s hand," he said in mock helplessness to a tournament volunteer. "That’s what mom always told me. Is it OK if I hold your hand?"
Then he held the (male) volunteer’s hand and crossed the road.