John Beale, Post-Gazette Even pesky No. 18 at Quicksilver couldn't sidetrack Bob Ford in his record round. Click photo for larger image. Birdies & Bogeys: 8/16/06 This week's Lipouts: 8/16/06 Next on the tee: 8/16/06 Pennsylvania Open: Butler amateur feels no pressure as leader

It was, to be sure, one of the most amazing golf turnarounds in recent memory, though probably for understandable reasons.

Bob Ford, the head professional at Oakmont Country Club, site of the 2007 U.S. Open, shot 91 in the opening round of the Sewickley Invitational July 31 and missed the cut -- the result of severe back pain that caused him to hit several balls out of bounds.

The following week, after opening with a 4-under 68 in the first round of the Tri-State PGA Senior Championship at Quicksilver, Ford shot a course-record 62 to win the tournament by two shots.

That's 29 shots better, in case your math is lacking.

And it was one shot better than the 63 fired by former Allegheny pro Roy Vucinich a day earlier.

"I just birdied 17 and I thought if I can make one more birdie I'll beat Roy's number," Ford said. "But I've never birdied 18 at Quicksilver before."

Ford, though, hit an 8-iron to 12 feet on the par-4 hole and made birdie -- his fourth in a row -- tying his competitive career low and finishing with a tournament-record 14-under 130. Not only did the 62 break Vucinich's short-lived course record -- "I don't think it made 24 hours," Vucinich said -- it easily bettered the previous record of 65 shot by Bob Charles when he won a Senior PGA Tour event in 1993.

Quicksilver played at 6,784 yards for the final round of last week's tournament, not much shorter than when Charles won the Pittsburgh Senior Classic at Quicksilver.

"A spectacular round of golf," said Sean Parees, Quicksilver's director of golf. "He's been so good for golf and the Tri-State PGA, if anybody had to shoot 62 here, we're honored it was Bob Ford."

One more sidelight:

Vucinich's 63 included four consecutive birdies and an eagle in a five-hole stretch, beginning at No. 8, but also a penalty for driving into the water at the par-5 15th.

Before the round, Vucinich had to borrow a glove from Ford -- they both use the same TaylorMade products -- because he didn't have any in his bag. When he came back the second day, Vucinich brought Ford a new glove.

"He said, 'Is there a good score in there for me?'" Vucinich asked.

Apparently so.

Trivia

Arnold Palmer never won the PGA Championship, finishing second in 1964, 1968 and 1978. Who holds the record for most runner-up finishes in the PGA? Answer at end.

Buckeye ball

The Ohio Golf Association finally has come up with the uniform ball all 72 players will use in the inaugural Champions Tournament that begins Tuesday at Windy Knoll in Springield, Ohio, though the manufacturer of the ball remains a mystery.

The OGA submitted the ball for approval to the United States Golf Association earlier this year and was told it was on the conforming list of golf balls.

"We don't care if people want to make a shorter golf ball," Dick Rugge, the USGA's senior technical director, said yesterday. "We don't identify them because we would dry up their business."

According to Golf World magazine, the ball is a three-piece, very high-spin, very low-compression model that is 6 to 7 yards shorter off the driver, 5 yards shorter off irons and nearly 20 yards shorter into the wind for players with swing speeds in the 100 to 110 mph range.

The logo on the uniform ball is "OGA" and has a side stamp that says "Champions08222306," the tournament and its dates. Curiously, while the ball is USGA conforming, the stamping on the ball is not, Rugge said.

Rugge compared the situation to when Greg Norman disqualified himself from the 1996 Greater Hartford Open before the third round because the ball he was using -- which was conforming -- was stamped incorrectly.

But that won't matter is this event because the OGA has instituted a local rule to approve the ball.

"Nobody submitted a ball that said 'OGA' on it," Rugge said. "That's not a ball that could be played on the PGA Tour until the manufacturer submitted that ball with those stampings."

Royal Ryder

Palmer's record in Ryder Cup matches is nearly unmatched among American players, with a record 22 victories, including 11 singles victories, in six appearances. Only Billy Casper (23 1/2>) has accumulated more points than Palmer (22) in Ryder Cup competition.

Maybe the U.S. team will feel some of the karma when the Ryder Cup is contested next month at the K Club in Straffan, County Kildaire, Ireland -- the course Palmer designed in 1991.

Unlike some European courses that have staged the Ryder Cup, the K Club is a parkland-style course that plays to par 72. Palmer and his design team re-designed the K Club last year to get ready for the Ryder Cup, adding trees in some areas and stretching the layout to 7,355 yards.

Palmer plans to attend the matches against Europe, which begin Sept. 22 -- 12 days after he turns 77.

"I'm extremely proud of my Ryder Cup record," Palmer said. "It meant a lot to me and it still means a lot to me."

First Tee weekend

The First Tee of Pittsburgh's annual hole in one charity weekend begins Sept. 8, culminating with six players having a chance to win $1 million on Sept. 18. Qualifying begins at 4 p.m. and runs until 8 p.m. Sept. 8 at No. 5 at Schenley Park. The event also includes the Great Helicopter Ball Drop fund-raiser in which contestants purchase balls to be dropped from a helicopter (closest to the hole wins). For information call, 412-622-0108.

Dissa and data

LPGA Tour star Paula Creamer, No. 4 in the world, will stage an exhibition for selected children Aug. 28 at Schenley Park as part of the First Tee of Pittsburgh program. The clinic begins at 3 p.m. The event is open to the public.

Entries are still being accepted for the 36-hole Pittsburgh Amateur Championship, which is Saturday at Schenley Park. There are four divisions -- Open, Seniors (50+), Super Seniors (62+) and Legends (75). Call 412-622-6959.

Trivia answer

Jack Nicklaus, who won the tournament five times, finished second four times (1964, 1965, 1974, 1983), more than any other player.