Simpson Sticks to the Game : Golf: He turns his mind from personal tragedy to shoot 64 and share the lead with O'Meara after two rounds of the Bob Hope Classic.

By MAL FLORENCE

Feb. 8, 1991 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — Even though Tim Simpson shot a 64 Thursday at Bermuda Dunes to share the second-round lead in the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic with Mark O’Meara, he said he is having a difficult time getting motivated to play golf.

His brother-in-law, John Termini, was stabbed to death in Atlanta on New Year’s Day.

“We were pretty close and did a lot of hunting together,” Simpson said. “He was stabbed in one of the nicest areas of Atlanta. Unfortunately, they still haven’t caught the guy.

“It was just a freak thing. He was a very quiet guy and didn’t bother anyone. He worked in a grocery store. He was an expert marksman with a pistol.

“I guess the motive was robbery. They took his money and his truck.

“I feel very disheartened for my wife, sister-in-law and mother-in-law. It puts things in perspective. You get so caught up in your careers and your game. . . .

“If I didn’t have such an incredible desire to make the Ryder Cup team, I’d take a month or two off.”

Simpson said he doesn’t have any problems once he’s on the course, where momentarily he can block out the tragedy. “Once I’m focused on what I’m doing, I’m OK,” he said.

He was focused enough on a another clear, warm day in the desert to shoot his eight-under-par round for a 36-hole total of 13-under-par 131.

“It was quite unexpected; I’m very rusty,” Simpson said. “I’m not hitting on all cylinders. My game isn’t 100%.”

Simpson said he hasn’t played since the Hawaiian Open on Jan. 17-20. He pulled out of the Tournament of Champions at La Costa in early January when he learned of his brother-in-law’s death.

Simpson, 34, has been on the PGA Tour since 1977, and his career has escalated the past two years. He earned $761,597 in 1989 and $809,772 in 1990.

He won the Walt Disney World tournament last year, lost in a playoff in the Doral Open when Greg Norman chipped in for an eagle and led the U.S. Open for two rounds, finishing in a tie for fifth.

Simpson tied Paul Azinger for the most top-10 finishes in 1990 with 12. He was also high on the list in other statistical categories.

He didn’t make the Ryder Cup team in 1989, the most recent time the matches were played, but said he was gratified when many of his colleagues said he should have been chosen.

‘I’ve done more neat things the last two years and have gotten less publicity,” Simpson said, laughing.

Simpson said he had been his own worst enemy in the past, too intense and expecting too much of himself.

“In the first 11 years out here, I worked so hard and I was so intense that basically I couldn’t get out of my own way,” he said. “I tried so hard and wanted to be good so bad, I was just too tough on myself.”

But his attitude changed, he said, when his daughter, Katie, nearly died at birth in 1986.

“I was thinking, ‘how am I going to tell my wife that her baby is dying?’ ” Simpson said. “Your whole life is out of perspective. It revolves around golf. It’s so stupid. It’s nothing but a game.

“It was a tremendous awakening for me. I have different outlook on life, a different approach to the game.”

As an example, Simpson said he hit what he thought was a perfect tee shot on his first hole, the par-four 10th. However, his two-iron shot went 250 yards into a lake.

“I smiled, made a bogey and moved on,” he said. “Five years ago, I would have been crying under the collar a little bit.”

That was his last bogey Thursday. He proceeded to get nine birdies, two on putts of 25 and 30 feet and another when his pitch shot landed an inch from the cup on the par-five 18th hole.

Robert Gamez, the first-round leader with a 64, seemed to be on his way to protecting his position when he had a 32 on his front nine of the Palmer Course at PGA West. Then he faltered with a 38 on the back side for a 70. So he’s at 134, tied with Corey Pavin (who shot 69 Thursday), Bob Tway (68) and David Edwards (65).

Jim McGovern, a tour rookie, followed his 66 Wednesday at Indian Wells with a 67 at the Palmer Course and, at 133, is only two shots behind Simpson and O’Meara.

Golf Notes

Mark O’Meara’s 65 at the Palmer Course followed his 66 Wednesday at Indian Wells. . . . Rocco Mediate shot a course-record 63 at La Quinta after an opening-round 76 at the Palmer Course. . . . Corey Pavin, the former UCLA star who had a 65 Wednesday, came back with a 69 at La Quinta for a 134 total.

Tim Simpson tied for fourth place last year in the Hope tournament. . . . There were 95 players under par after two rounds. Even though the pros are battering par, there are still some lapses, such as Chris Perry’s 11 on the par-four, 398-yard ninth hole at Indian Wells.

Curtis Strange, who had a 66 Wednesday, faltered to a one-over 73 at La Quinta. . . . Six amateur teams were tied at 29 under par. Dodger pitcher Fernando Valenzuela’s team is at 26 under after tying for the first-round lead.