Hurst Doesn’t Care a Lot About Majors? Shore She Doesn’t

Pat Hurst won her first major last year. She says she doesn’t think about winning any more of them. Really.

“I just try to go out and do the best I can, no matter what the tournament is,” said Hurst, who won the Nabisco Dinah Shore by one shot. “I’m happy because I gave 100%.

“I’m trying to play good golf every time out. Just because I won Dinah, I don’t try to put too much emphasis on winning a major championship.”

If that sounds more like an alibi if things don’t go well, or a defense mechanism so the pressure won’t be too great, it’s also total baloney, of course. Hurst is no different from many LPGA Tour players, even stars such as Laura Davies, who take the same, safe route when asked about majors.

The truth is that careers are defined by majors. They are the most important events played each year, and everybody knows that--even if they are scared to admit it.

Hurst, who will be 30 in May, followed a rather indifferent pro career path (one victory in three years) until she broke through at Mission Hills, where she either led or was tied for the lead after every round. Hurst’s seven-under-par 281 beat Helen Dobson by one shot.

A former teaching pro at La Quinta, Hurst won the 1986 U.S. Junior Amateur, the 1990 U.S. Amateur and the 1989 NCAA championship at San Jose State.

But despite her success, she wasn’t happy. She said she was playing for the wrong reasons--she was playing for other people. Call it burnout or whatever, but Hurst turned her back on a pro career, put her clubs away for a year and then settled in at La Quinta, where she taught for two more years.

Hurst eventually learned that she liked golf again. She turned pro in 1995 and was the LPGA’s rookie of the year, winning $124,989. She doubled her earnings in 1996 and made $612,329 last year. Understandably, she also felt good about it.

“I’m playing for me and not for anyone else,” Hurst said.

Hurst is six months pregnant and doesn’t plan on playing past the Titleholders, May 6-9. She’s going to take 2 1/2 months off after her baby is born, which means Hurst won’t play in three of the four majors this year. That should make her happy.

MENU, PLEASE

For the record, Mark O’Meara has decided on his choice for the Masters dinner: sushi and sashimi as appetizers, Caesar salad and steak and chicken fajitas for dinner.

WRITTEN IN INK(STER)

Juli Inkster’s one-shot victory at last week’s Welch’s/Circle K Championship was her 18th in 16 years. It also means the 39-year-old from Los Altos is only six points short of the 27 points needed to make it into the LPGA Hall of Fame under the new eligibility rules.

HIS AIRNESS: GRIP IT

For what it’s worth, the specs on Michael Jordan’s custom-built Wilson clubs are only semi-unusual.

Bob Mendralla Jr. of Wilson said Jordan’s arms are quite long, but the shafts of his clubs aren’t that out of line for their length--40 1/4 inches on a two-iron, or only about 1 1/4 inches longer than the average club.

However, it’s the built-up grip that makes Jordan’s clubs so different. His hands are so big that Mendralla uses 24 wraps of tape, then adds an oversize grip over the tape.

“It’s basically a double-oversize grip,” Mendralla said.

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

Please do not confuse Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain with Miguel Angel Martin of Spain.

Martin is the guy Seve Ballesteros deep-sixed off the 1997 Ryder Cup team faster than he could say Valderrama, when there was a chance to get Nick Faldo instead.

Jimenez is one of the hottest players on the European PGA Tour. He won his fifth event last week when he successfully defended his Turespana Masters title at Malaga, Spain, to virtually assure himself of a place on the Ryder Cup team in September.

By the way, the other Masters, the one at Augusta, has invited Jimenez and Patrik Sjoland of Sweden.

MATTER OF SURVIVAL

Besides writing down a bunch of 8s, we all realize there’s not much worse that can happen in a round of golf than getting a headache or suffering from stomach cramps or ripping your slacks or a screw dropping out of your glasses.

Well, now those worries are over. Kenneth R. Wolf Jr. of Cerritos has developed the “Golfing Survival Kit” (patent pending), that includes such items as safety pins, napkins, medical tape, bandages, lip moisturizer, antacid, water, sun block, mosquito repellent, eye drops, disinfectant, aspirin, anti-diarrhea medicine and, yes, petroleum jelly. If there’s something in there that makes the golf ball find the green by itself, it’s going to be a smash hit.

SCGA TURNS 100

The Southern California Golf Assn. will hold its 100th SCGA Amateur July 16-18 at Industry Hills as part of its record, 115-tournament schedule. There are nine individual championships, three two-person team championships and five team championships on the SCGA’s 1999 tournament schedule. Details: (818) 980-3630.

BIRDIES, BOGEYS, PARS

A field including Joe Pesci, Glenn Frey, Terry Bradshaw, Michael Bolton, Alice Cooper, Norm Crosby, Jamie Farr, Carlton Fisk, Franco Harris, John Havlicek, Joanna Kerns, Hal Linden, Ed Marinaro, Don Meredith, Jim Plunkett, Brooks Robinson, Wayne Rogers, Gale Sayers, Tommy Smothers, Elke Sommer, Robert Stack, Alan Thicke, Johnny Unitas, Bucky Waters and Jack Whitaker is scheduled to play in the Nabisco Dinah Shore Celebrity Pro-Am Tuesday and Wednesday at Mission Hills Country Club. Details: (760) 324-4546.

After taking a year off, the Diners Club Matches are coming back--this time at Pelican Hill in Newport Beach in December. The $1.2-million match play event with players from the PGA Tour, Senior PGA Tour and LPGA Tour, has a four-year deal with the tours. The matches will donate $100,000 to UC Irvine’s athletic department.

Beth Daniel and Kris Tschetter will appear at the first of a 14-city series of LPGA golf clinics for women, March 29, at Calabasas Country Club. The event benefits the Susan G. Koman Breast Cancer Foundation. Details: (617) 242-0846.

The Children’s Dental Center in Inglewood is holding a tournament March 29 at Rolling Hills Country Club. Details: (760) 632-7770.

The 10th Orthopaedic Hospital Paul Runyan tournament will be played April 19 at Oakmont Country Club in Glendale. The event benefits disadvantaged children with musculoskeletal tumors being treated at Orthopaedic Hospital. Details: (213) 742-1500.

The 15th Ricky Bell Memorial Scholarship Fund event will be played June 11 at Lakewood Country Club. The event provides scholarships to economically disadvantaged students. Details: (818) 343-7423.

The 17th Tom Flores Boy Scout Invitational will be played June 29 at Pelican Hill. The event benefits the Los Angeles Area Council’s Scouting with Disabilities Program. Details: (213) 413-4400, Ext. 227.

La Quinta Country Club has approved a $1.5-million plan to renovate the golf course, including rebuilding all the greens and tees, remodeling the bunkers and expanding the lake. The work is scheduled to begin in five weeks and be completed in time for the Bob Hope in January.