Eight Inducted Into Golf's Hall

Tuesday, November 21st 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. (AP) â€” They came from different parts of the world and made different contributions to golf. But the eight newest members of the World Golf Hall of Fame shared a similar message: They didn't get there alone.

Juli Inkster paid tribute to a supportive husband and two daughters. Judy Rankin offered an emotional salute to a longtime coach and her son. Beth Daniel recalled learning the game from her father.

Perhaps the most poignant moment Monday night came from Jack Burke Jr., but not before he broke up a crowd of about 800 that braved a frosty night in Florida.

``You girls with those tears, you've got me up here in casual water,'' said the former Masters and PGA champion.

Burke, one of the most popular teachers himself, honored such instructors as Jack Grout, Pete Cooper, Claude Harmon, Johnny Revolta, Paul Runyan and Deacon Palmer.

``Without these great teachers, none of us would be in here,'' Burke said. ``Those fellas are probably not going to get in the Hall of Fame, but I want to say to you tonight, 'You're coming in with me.' I'm bringing the teachers in.''

It was the largest induction class since 1975.

Inkster, who juggled being a soccer mom and being one of the most competitive players in the game, and Daniel were the only active players among this year's induction class, the largest since eight were inducted in 1975.

Daniel qualified in 1999 but postponed her induction to the year her parents and the LPGA Tour celebrated their 50th anniversaries. Monday also happened to be her brother's 50th birthday.

Joining the inductees was Rankin, a 26-time winner and longtime ABC Sports golf analyst who was voted in through the Veteran's Category.

The World Golf Foundation selected five others â€” former PGA Tour commissioner Deane Beman, Sir Michael Bonallack, Neil Coles and British teaching pro John Jacobs through Lifetime Achievement; and Burke from the Veteran's Category.

Their induction brings membership in the Hall of Fame to 84.

``They have gotten to the Hall of Fame through very different paths,'' PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said on a cold, clear night at the World Golf Village. ``Each has left their indelible marks.''

Each paid tribute to those who have paved the way for them, particularly the women.

The LPGA Tour celebrated its 50th anniversary, recalling the days when 13 founders ran a circuit that has blossomed into 40 tournaments with prize money pushing $40 million.

``Because of these women, I have been able to live my dream,'' Daniel said.

Daniel and Inkster qualified when the LPGA Tour early last year changed its requirements from the most stringent of any Hall of Fame to one based on points.

``It's unbelievable that my name will go alongside some of the greatest men and women to ever play the game of golf,'' said Daniel, who has won 32 times and one major.

Inkster thought the Hall of Fame was out of reach, especially after going through a five-year winless drought during which she devoted her attention to her two daughters.

``I thought those guys were my Hall of Fame,'' she said.

When the requirements were changed, the three-time U.S. Amateur champion blazed into the shrine by winning five times last year, including the prized U.S. Open and becoming only the second woman to complete the modern Grand Slam.

Along with creating The Players Championship, Beman developed the Senior Tour and Buy.com Tour and conceived the idea of stadium golf, leading to over 30 TPC courses.

Burke was in the previous Hall of Fame at Pinehurst, N.C., but was not ushered in when the shrine moved to Florida. He staged the greatest comeback in Masters history, a 71 in the final round that brought him from eight strokes behind in 1956.

One teacher who made it on his own was Jacobs, one of the most respected instructors in Europe who worked with Coles to help develop the European tour, uniting continental Europe with the United Kingdom.

Coles, who does not fly, was the only inductee not present.

Bonallack was secretary of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club for 16 years until retiring in 1999. He also was considered one of the greatest British amateurs, a five-time British Amateur and English Amateur champion.