Change in venue may throw Inman for a loop
Golf Digest
VALENCIA, Calif. (March 8) -- Joe Inman wants to win the SBC Senior Classic so badly he's playing despite his wife's protests.
Inman can become the first golfer on the Senior PGA Tour to win the same tournament four years in a row when he tees off Friday in the $1.4 million event, which has been moved to the Valencia Country Club after six years at the Wilshire Country Club.
He is one of only five players in Senior PGA history to win the same event three years in a row.
Inman's wife did not want him to play in this tournament because he has an aching back and bruised ribs. He sustained the injuries last month in Florida and played in considerable pain last week in the Toshiba Senior Classic, where he tied for 74th out of 78 golfers.
Inman realizes his wife is probably right about his aching back. Yet, the chance to do something no one else has ever achieved is motivation enough for the 53-year-old Inman to give it a try despite his physical discomfort.
"If all you ever ate was ice cream, you'd get tired of it," Inman told the Los Angeles Times. "You've got to have wasabi sometimes. That's what life is all about, sweet and sour, up and down. This is one of those down times."
Inman is more upset about the change of venue for this year's tournament. His three consecutive victories came at Wilshire, which was much closer to Los Angeles and an easier commute than the 30-mile trek north to Valencia.
"It breaks my heart," Inman said.
It would be a surprise if Inman wins the Senior SBC Classic again. The star-studded field includes virtually all the top players on the circuit, led by leading money winner Larry Nelson, Gil Morgan, Jose Maria Canizares and Bob Gilder.
Then again, Inman has been full of surprises since joining the Senior circuit four years ago. As a PGA Tour player from 1974-86, he earned $729,249. In four years on the Senior Tour, he has pocketed $3.44 million.
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