Leaders Cash In Chips

By THOMAS BONK

Feb. 28, 1997 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

Riviera was laid lower than one of its barrancas Thursday at the Nissan Open, where the leaders after the first round are Payne Stewart, who had a chip on his elbow, and Scott Hoch, who has a chip on his shoulder.

Stewart birdied four holes on the back and finished with a six-under-par 65 that took his attention away from the bone chip he had removed from his right elbow seven weeks ago.

“My elbow is not in my mind at all,” Stewart said.

Meanwhile, what’s in Hoch’s mind after his opening round of 65 remained largely a secret, mainly because he no longer is talking to the print media.

Hoch sent word that he isn’t talking because he has been misquoted too many times.

It’s a loss, to be sure, but the media will adjust. And if Hoch continues to play as he did for the first 18 holes, he ought to consider taping his mouth shut for good.

On opening day, storied Riviera got its kikuyu spanked. A total of 68 players shot par or better, including Tiger Woods, who began with a 70 and finished in a huff when he was distracted by a camera clicking on the 18th green.

Riviera got a small bit of revenge at the expense of Jerry Kelly, who three-putted from four inches on 18 and wrapped his putter around a tree. He shot a 74.

The problems were few for Paul Goydos and Nick Faldo, who are tied for third at five-under 66. There was a six-way tie at 67 among Mark O’Meara, Tom Watson, Tom Purtzer, Don Pooley, Fred Funk and Frank Lickliter.

Fred Couples posted a 68 and is tied with Peter Jacobsen, Scott McCarron, David Ogrin and Bob Estes.

Stewart is making the most of his comeback from surgery that kept him off the tour until last week at Tucson, where he finished tied for 35th.

In his time away, Stewart got to know his family again, especially his 11-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son. He said it was a total learning experience.

“Parents are nothing more than a taxi service, I figured that out,” he said.

Stewart began with successive birdies, which is not exactly how he played Riviera the first time in the 1983 PGA Championship. He made a 10 and hit three balls out off bounds.

“I still love this golf course,” he said. “It’s a pleasure to play.”

He is officially back, Stewart said.

“I think you can say that Payne Stewart is going to see how good he can play,” Stewart said. “I’ve dedicated myself to seeing how good I can be again.”

Hoch, who has been off for four weeks, didn’t play like it. He shot 29 on the front nine, which was actually his back nine because he began on No. 10.

Goydos, whose victory at Bay Hill last year was his first, knew everything was going to be all right as soon as he arrived at the golf course from his home in Long Beach.

“My first goal was to make it through the traffic and get here on time,” he said.

It took Goydos an hour to travel 30 miles for his 11:47 tee time, and it took about five seconds for his 20-foot birdie putt to drop on No. 5 after it hung on the lip for a while.

He wasted no time for a reaction: “Kind of cool.”

Faldo hasn’t played this tournament at Riviera since 1989--he played here at the PGA Championship in 1995--but he speaks of the layout with great fondness nonetheless.

“You’ve got to position your second shots,” he said. “That’s the beauty of this golf course.”

Faldo hasn’t played since he finished tied for 38th at Pebble Beach, but he is encouraged by the condition of his game and the shape of his swing after working with his teacher, David Leadbetter.

“I’ve been trying to put it all together,” Faldo said. “That’s as good as I’ve played in a long time.”

There could have been quite a few players saying that Thursday. Watson was appreciative of a round that featured four birdies and a 32 on the back.

“If I keep driving the ball as well as I did today, I should have a chance,” he said.

Jacobsen said his own chances aren’t too shabby, but that players such as Watson, Couples and O’Meara, who hit high, soft iron shots, have an advantage.

“All I know, it sure would be nice for anyone to have his name on the trophy right there with Hogan and Snead and Nelson,” Jacobsen said.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Nissan Open Scoreboard

AT THE TOP

Payne Stewart: 33-32--65 -6

Scott Hoch: 29-36--65 -6

Paul Goydos: 31-35--66 -5

Nick Faldo: 33-33--66 -5

IN HOT PURSUIT

Tom Purtzer: 33-34--67 -4

Don Pooley: 31-36--67 -4

Mark O’Meara: 33-34--67 -4