This Week

Sept. 16-22

PGA
B.C. Open, En-Joie Golf Club, Endicott, N.Y.
Broome County's big clash features Gabriel Hjertstedt's quest for
back-to-back crowns

LPGA
Solheim Cup, Muirfield Village Golf Club, Dublin, Ohio
Captain Pia Nilsson's Europeans appear to have more firepower
than Judy Rankin's U.S. team

Senior
Kroger Senior Classic, Golf Center at Kings Island, Mason, Ohio
Defending champ Jay Sigel trails only Hale Irwin, Gil Morgan and
Larry Nelson in '98 earnings

Europe
Trophee Lancome, St. Nom la Breteche, Paris
Defending champ Mark O'Meara returns to the scene of his infamous
1997 mis-mark

PGA Tour
Gabriel Can't Afford to Blow It

Gabriel Hjertstedt may lead the Tour in consonants, but he has
lost his A game and might soon need to pay entry fees with IOUs.
The pride of Umea, Sweden, who won the 1997 B.C. Open, has missed
the cut in 11 of his 20 starts this year and is in danger of
losing his Tour card. Hjertstedt, who moved up 27 spaces on the
money list with a tie for ninth at Milwaukee two weeks ago, might
enjoy himself even more at En-Joie Golf Club this week. Of the 25
money leaders, only Jim Furyk will be on hand to challenge
Hjertstedt as he defends his title against such lesser lights as
Michael Bradley and Steve Pate.
--GOLF CHANNEL, SAT., 1:30 PM; SUN., 2 PM

LPGA
Swede 'n' Low In the Cup

European players have finished either first or second on the LPGA
money list every year since 1994. In three of those four years
they have taken two of the top three spots. How then did the U.S.
win the '94 Solheim Cup and repeat (above) in '96? Answer: by
exploiting the Europeans' chronic lack of depth. While winning
the last two showdowns, the U.S. has consistently prevailed in
the matchups of lower-ranked players on the 12-woman squads.
First-time European captain Pia Nilsson hopes to turn the tide
with meditation, yoga and nutrition, including some serious home
cooking--Nilsson spent four of her five wild-card picks on pros
from her native Sweden.
--NBC, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, 3 PM

Senior Tour
Kroger Seniors Discount Par

Jay Sigel averaged fewer than 25 putts a round at the '97 Kroger
Classic, filling the jars in Mason, Ohio, with birdies. This
year, Kroger officials hope to satisfy golf-hungry fans with a
field featuring David Graham, Terry Dill and two bergers, Dave
Eichelberger and Al Geiberger. The event also stars one of Ohio's
favorite sons--sponsor's exemption Johnny Bench, who will be
playing in his third event and looking to increase his '98
earnings of $1,767. Japan's Isao Aoki, however, is a far better
bet than Pete Rose's old teammate. A second-place finisher in two
of the past three Krogers, Aoki has been heating up lately, and
the Kroger champ is always hotter than hot. Every winner in the
tournament's eight-year history has broken 70 in all three
rounds.
--ESPN, SATURDAY, 3 PM; SUNDAY, 5 PM

COLOR PHOTO: DAVID CANNON/ALLSPORT [1994 United States Solheim Cup players with arms raised]