Golf : O’Grady Plaudits Not Left-Handed Tribute

PALM DESERT —  Blaine McCallister and Mac O’Grady stand out on any green and not just because of their skills. They putt left-handed.

McCallister, who says he is naturally left-handed, plays his other shots right-handed. O’Grady can rip the ball from either side.

McCallister says that O’Grady, who was forced to drop out of the tournament Friday with back problems, is a uniquely talented player.

“I watched him on the range the other day, when he was warming up, and he was ripping them out there left-handed about 250, or 260 yards,” McCallister said. “He has more pure talent than any man I’ve ever seen.”

That’s a glowing tribute considering the caliber of the players on the PGA Tour.

Arnold Palmer, who played in the Hope tournament for the 30th time, says there is a changing attitude among American golfers, responding to the challenge of foreign players.

“Europeans and Australians, for example, started working hard,” Palmer said. “Meanwhile, Americans would win a tournament and take 3 or 4 weeks off. “But the attitude among Americans is much better than it was 5 years ago. Some of these younger guys have a tremendous attitude, especially Jeff Sluman, who has said that he’ll play in 38 tournaments this year and will go on playing.”

Dave Stockton, a former winner of the Nissan Los Angeles Open, good-naturedly commenting on the amateurs in the Hope tournament:

“It’s the only time you get to play 4 rounds with 30 handicappers who say they’re 18.”

Jim Everett is the starting quarterback for the Rams, but he became a last-minute substitute for Dodger pitcher Orel Hershiser in the celebrity field of the Hope tournament.

“Hopefully, this is the last time I’ll be here,” Everett said. “And I say that in a positive way.”

Everett would rather be preparing for the Super Bowl.

Asked which team he favors in next Sunday’s Super Bowl, San Francisco or Cincinnati, Everett said: “I’ll take the 49ers. They’re an awfully good football team, but they’re going to have to play very well to beat the Bengals.”

Everett, reportedly a 13-handicap golfer, has impressed galleries with his long drives. His caddie is Ram kicker Mike Lansford.

Gary Carter, the New York Mets catcher who played in the Hope celebrity field, says that younger players aren’t aspiring to catching.

“There is so much money in the game that the players want to play a long time, and there is no longevity in catching,” Carter said. “You don’t see a lot of young catchers anymore. With the kind of money out there, who wants to catch and get hurt?”

Carter was pleased about the selection of Johnny Bench, the former Cincinnati Reds catcher, to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

“I am very proud and happy for Johnny,” Carter told the Desert Sun newspaper. “His selection makes me even want to work harder to achieve some of the records he has set.

“I have 1 year left on my contract with the Mets. If I can catch, that will be a bonus. But anywhere they want to play me will be a bonus. I hope I can play 4 or 5 more years.”

Jay Haas, the defending champion of the Hope tournament, has a special nickname for Steve Pate.

“I call him the human volcano. He can erupt at any time and he knows it, too,” Haas said of Pate’s behavior when he hits a bad shot. “However, 100 yards later, he’ll turn to you and ask how your family is doing.”

Pate, the former UCLA star, probably erupted Wednesday, the first day of the tournament, when he shot an 81. However, he shot a 10-under-par 62 Friday at Indian Wells that included a hole-in-one and an eagle.

Golf Notes

Al Geiberger and Willie Hunter have been inducted into the Southern California section of the PGA of America’s Hall of Fame. Geiberger, who is playing on the Senior tour, became the first player to break 60 in a PGA Tour event with a 59 in the 1977 Memphis Classic. Hunter is a former head professional at Riviera Country Club. He won the British Amateur in 1921. . . . The LPGA and Amateur Athletic Foundation have announced plans for a junior golf program to benefit needy youngsters in Los Angeles. The first two sites of the program will be Jesse Owens Park in South-Central L.A. and Griffith Park. Two additional sites will be selected later.

Actor Dan Chambers and voice specialist Howard Flynn were the winners in the Hollywood Hackers’ championship tournament at Indian Wells. Chambers was the low-gross winner with a 2-day score of 159, and Flynn was low-net champion at 138. . . . Scott Kelly, previously director of marketing services for the Los Angeles Junior Chamber of Commerce, has been named tournament director of the Nissan Los Angeles Open by the LAJCC. Stacy Colborne was named coordinator of the tournament, to be played at Riviera Feb. 2-5.

Michael C. Mitzel has been promoted from first assistant to head pro at Coto de Caza GC. . . . A driving tournament for the pros and a putting contest for spectators will be included in the St. Francis Hospital pro-celebrity tournament at the Santa Barbara community course Jan. 23. . . . Pros Mark Hayes, Dave Edwards and Andy Magee, and U.S Amateur champion Eric Meeks will be featured in Friendly Hills’ annual charity tournament Jan. 30.