Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, April 22, 1990 TAG: 9004220104
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: GREENSBORO, N.C. LENGTH: Medium
Reid enters the final round of the Greater Greensboro Open with a three-stroke lead, the same margin he enjoyed last year after three rounds of the PGA Championship.
"I don't think any lead is comfortable," said Reid, who shot a 5-under-par 67 Saturday for a 54-hole total of 209. "I've managed to lose all kinds of ways. I've spanned the globe."
Reid was the first golfer to win $1 million - back when $1 million would impress anybody - without the benefit of a tour victory. He had been on the PGA Tour for more than 10 years when he recorded his first victory at the 1987 Tucson Open.
"I still get nervous," said Reid, whose second of two tour victories was at the 1988 World Series. "If I weren't nervous, it wouldn't be worth coming out here. But this kind of nervous is better than the feeling of `I wonder if it's ever going to happen.' "
Reid has reason to be nervous about Fred Couples, who is alone in second place after his third straight under-par round of the week, a 71. Couples, who ranks fourth on the PGA Tour money list, is bidding for his sixth top-five finish in 12 tournaments this year.
Couples had one par on the first six holes, but added three bogeys and two birdies. He avoided more bogeys with some neat scrambling on his way to the clubhouse.
"It was a wild start for me," said Couples, who took a bogey at No. 6 when he required three putts from 8 feet. "I've been playing pretty well and not making a lot of mistakes. You're going to make some mistakes, but that was a bad, bad one."
Couples is known for his prodigious length - supposedly an asset at the 6,958-yard Forest Oaks course - but Reid ranks only 167th on the PGA Tour in driving distance. Jeff Sluman, tied for third with Nick Price, ranks 130th.
"Why does everybody say that the longer courses favor the long hitters?" Couples asked. "The way I see it, the longer hitter has an advantage on every course.
"Those guys [Reid and Sluman] are very straight, and since the rough is 6 to 8 inches tall, that's probably more important. It's playing like a U.S. Open course."
It was Couples who had predicted after Friday's second round that nobody would shoot 5 or 6 under, but Sluman, who had a 68, and Reid each had six birdies.
"I don't know how he did it, but what Mike Reid shot out there today was fantastic," Couples said. "If somebody below Mike Reid has a 67 [today], they'll probably win."
Sluman, who holds the 36-hole record here with a 129 in 1988, and Price lead four players at 214: Chip Beck, Jay Don Blake, John Huston and Jim Gallagher Jr.
Gallagher entered Saturday's action with a one-stroke lead over Couples and three others, but struggled to a 74 that was marked by six bogeys and four birdies.
Beck had a 4-under-par 32 on the front nine but bogeyed Nos. 10 and 11 to settle into the pack. Paul Azinger had 33 on the front, but ballooned to a 40 in a near repeat of his 32-41 showing Friday.
Although it did not rain heavily until all golfers had completed play, a brisk wind contributed to tough scoring conditions. Reid was unfazed, knocking in short birdie putts on three of the first seven holes.
Reid's only bogey came at No. 4, where his approach shot caromed off a security guard's helmet. He later enjoyed some good fortune when he rolled in birdie putts of 15 feet at No. 14 and 20 feet at 17.
"I didn't play a flawless round by any means," Reid said. "I just took advantage of my scoring opportunities. This is not the kind of course, particularly this week, that you ever think you're going to tear up."
Reid, 35, ranks only 44th on the PGA Tour money list, but part of the reason for that is a reduced playing schedule. His wife is expecting their fourth child in May.
Reid skipped the Heritage Classic last week and returned home to Provo, Utah, origination point for the trip to Dinosaurland. He spent little time on his game and traveled to Greensboro with modest expectations.
"There wasn't any predisposition today; there won't be any tomorrow," Reid said. "There aren't many Babe Ruths in this league who can point to the outfield and hit the ball out of the park."
by CNB