Sluman Shares Lead at Disney Classic

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) _ Jeff Sluman was 25 and still trying to find his way in golf when he wound up at Disney World for the biggest event on the Space Coast Tour. <br><br>He had to pay $1,000 to

Friday, October 18th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) _ Jeff Sluman was 25 and still trying to find his way in golf when he wound up at Disney World for the biggest event on the Space Coast Tour.

He had to pay $1,000 to play, but his victory check was worth a whopping $15,000.

``I was set for life,'' he said. ``I didn't know what I was going to do with all that money.''

Sluman can laugh about it now.

Twenty years later, he's back at the Magic Kingdom competing against the likes of Tiger Woods for a $666,000 check _ and still holding his own.

One of five players in their 40s who have won on the PGA Tour this year, Sluman had a bogey-free 63 on the Palm course Thursday for a share of the lead with Bob Burns and Hidemichi Tanaka after the first round.

Sluman is No. 15 on the money list and trying to maintain his position so he can qualify for the four major championships next year. He already has gone over $2 million this year for the first time in 17 seasons.

The pressure is not much different from 20 years ago.

``There was a lot of pressure in that it helped me get over the hurdles,'' Sluman said. ``All those experiences, being able to compete and win in different spots, even on mini-tours, certainly helps later on in your life.''

What really helped Thursday was a perfect day for scoring, with warm, sunny skies and only a light breeze. Plus, players were able to lift, clean and replace balls in fairways still spongy from rain earlier in the week.

``You get your hands on the ball at the Palm, and you darn well better not go out and fire a 74,'' Sluman said. ``You're going to have some par time on the weekend.''

So many others followed his cue.

Of the 143 players who teed off, 125 shot par or better.

And yes, one of them was Woods.

Despite a wild adventure into the shrubs for one bogey and another at the end of his round, Woods scraped it around for a 6-under 66 in his first tournament since the Ryder Cup.

It was his ninth consecutive round in the 60s at Disney, and his 18th consecutive round at par or better on the PGA Tour.

``I'll take it,'' Woods said.

Woods was cruising along on the Palm until he got to the 17th, his eighth hole of the round. Grass was sparse on the tee box, so the markers were moved up 25 yards, prompting Woods to joke, ``Why are we playing the ladies' tees?''

That's where the cracks ended.

He went so far right into the trees that Woods hit a provisional in case he couldn't find his original shot. The bigger surprise was when he got down the fairway and found David Duval, playing in the group ahead, waiting on a ruling.

``It wasn't even close'' to hitting him, Woods said. ``That's how far right I hit it.''

Woods wandered through the bushes before he found his ball under a large shrub. He took a penalty stroke and hit a wedge over the palm trees, over the gallery surrounding the green and to about 12 feet. He missed the putt for what would have been a great par.

``There are days where you kind of slap around and get it in the hole somehow,'' Woods said. ``Other parts of the game are going to be better than others.''

Burns had all parts of his game working just fine.

He was coming off a week in Las Vegas where he made 19 birdies and still missed the cut. He found the solution on the Palm course, playing a bogey-free round, a good start for guy 118th on the money list and trying to secure his card for next year.

``Make a bunch of birdies, don't make bogeys. That's the scoop,'' said Burns, who came close to his first victory earlier this year at the Kemper Open.

Tanaka is playing Disney for the first time, although he's not a newcomer.

If the name is familiar, it's because the Japanese star had the 54-hole lead at the World Golf Championship in Spain two years ago before folding in the final round. He also knows about the Magic Kingdom, having come to Disney three weeks ago on vacation.

His favorite ride?

``Animal Kingdom. The one with water, where you get sprayed on,'' he said.

Tanaka didn't might getting wet in the park. His goal was to stay dry on the course, and he did a good job avoiding the water hazards on the Magnolia course.

The real hazard facing everyone was keeping up with the birdies.

Scott Hoch was among five players at 64, while Stuart Appleby was at 65. Joining Woods at 66 were Charles Howell III, Bernhard Langer and Carlos Franco.