DURANT COMES BACK TO DEFEND HOPE TITLE.

Byline: Larry Morgan Staff Writer

Joe Durant finished the 2001 PGA Tour season with two victories, just less than $3 million in earnings and a tour record for lowest score in a 90-hole event. He also was named the tour's Comeback Player of the Year.

Not bad for somebody who once was so frustrated with his game he tried selling insurance. The defending champion in this week's Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, which begins today on four courses in the La Quinta area, sold one policy before realizing he belonged on the fairways.

But his decision to return to the game wasn't an easy one. It took constant, not-too-subtle urging from his wife, Tracey, before he reorganized his priorities.

``She was the one who said, `Look, you're a good player, but you're sabotaging yourself. You've got to out there with a positive attitude,' '' Durant said. ``It's still something I work on constantly.

``I was always a negative thinker on the golf course. I finally decided it was time to stop beating myself up so much and just get out and play. That's something that I lost over the first three or four years of being a professional.

``I treated it too much like a job instead of it being something that I love to do.''

Durant certainly had a great time in last year's Hope. He took control of with a second-round 61 and breezed to victory. He was so impressive that second-place finisher Paul Stankowski closed with a 63 on Sunday and made up only two shots.

The 37-year-old Durant finished the tournament at 36-under, which broke the previous tour record for lowest score in a 90-hole tournament set by Tom Kite (35-under) in the 1995 Hope. Durant's first victory since the 1998 Western Open included 36 birdies, an eagle and only two bogeys.

He is off to a so-so start this season with $78,080 in earnings (his best finish was a tie for 20th in the Mercedes Championships), but he is confident he can have another big year.

``I feel like I'm ready to go,'' he said. ``I'm excited about playing. There's still some things I need to work on in my game, but there's plenty of time to do that.''

Tiger Woods has skipped the Hope again, but this year's field does include Phil Mickelson, David Toms, David Duval and Jesper Parnevik.

The Palmer Course at PGA West is this year's host facility. Other courses being used are at Bermuda Dunes, Indian Wells and Tamarisk country clubs. This year's tournament is worth $4 million and offers $720,000 to the winner.

BOB HOPE CHRYSLER CLASSIC

When: Today-Sunday

Where: La Quinta

TV: Today (ESPN, 1 p.m.-3 p.m.) and Friday (ESPN, noon-3 p.m.), Saturday and Sunday (Ch. 7, noon-3 p.m.)

Tickets: Call [phone] or go to the Web site at www.bhcc.com.

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BOB HOPE CHRYSLER CLASSIC (see text)