MAINEVILLE — Arnold Palmer wants his course, the Tournament Players Club at River's Bend, to challenge the Kroger Senior Classic players this weekend.

        But if the near-perfect weather that has been around through four days of practice stays through the weekend, low scores could be the norm in the 54-hole tournament that begins today.

ON THE NET

When: Today-Sunday at the TPC at River's Bend.     Today: First round starts at 7:30 a.m.     TV: PAX, 1 p.m.     Directions: I-71 North to exit 28 (State Route 48). Follow signs to parking.     Defending champion: Jim Thorpe.     Best bets     8-1, Hale Irwin: Tour's hottest player; almost a lock for top-five finish.     12-1, Jim Thorpe: Defending champion said course won't be too challenging if winds stay away.     15-1, Bob Gilder: Last week's winner has short game in order.     20-1, Bruce Fleisher: Will play carefully on difficult course.     25-1, Hugh Baiocchi: Familiar with course.

        “We haven't had any bad winds yet,” said Jim Thorpe, who won the tournament last year at the Grizzly course at Kings Island. “Under these same conditions, you could see a winner come in with an 18- or 20-under (par). If the winds come, though, it could get difficult with the undulating greens.”

        The forecast calls for sunny, pleasant days with temperatures in the mid-80s today to Sunday.

        That's just fine for Hale Irwin, who comes into the tournament as the hottest golfer on the tour, having finished second, first, third and third in his last four tournaments. In all, he has four wins and five runner-ups on the season and leads the money list and Charles Schwab Cup standings.

        “If the wind blows here, scores could be off the charts,” Irwin said. “There's going to be situations on this course that require you to take a deep breath and be patient. Having said that, we're at the end of the season, and our patience is kind of running on fumes.”

        The issue of the week has been the greens at River's Bend, which have contours that make long putts even more difficult than usual.

        Bob Gilder won last week at the Allianz Championship in Des Moines and said his putting is what has moved him up to second behind Irwin in points and money.

        “I feel pretty comfortable on these greens,” Gilder said. “The key is landing (the ball) on the right spot. Some guys have been crying, complaining, making some negative comments about the course. But that's because you don't play a lot of courses like this where there's a premium on iron accuracy.”

        Because the course is only a year old and this is the first SPGA event at River's Bend, all of the players are still learning the intricacies of each hole.

        “We'll have a better idea after (today),” Thorpe said. “Then we'll see how the course plays.”

        Irwin said it could take even longer.

        “We don't know the history of this place, and you can't learn that in a few days,” he said. “You might hit a shot you think is ideal and it could be 40-50 feet from the hole.”

        Given the way he's played lately, though, Irwin expects to be near the top of the leader board.

        “I have to give myself a chance,” he said. “I don't ever go into a tournament without thinking I have a chance if I play the game I'm capable of playing.”

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