Double Eagle

Greg Norman got the first double-eagle of his career today, holing out from 279 yards with a three-wood, en route to a 4-under-par 68 that gave him a two-stroke lead after two rounds of the Australian Open. Norman, whose 3-under par effort came on the fifth hole, also chipped in from 25 yards for an eagle on No. 15. He had a 36-hole total of 138. Jeff Maggert of the United States and Australians Brett Ogle and Peter Lonard were tied for second.

Legislation was introduced in the Senate by a bipartisan group to permit the minting of a U.S. Treasury gold coin that would compete in the world markets with the South African Krugerrand. Referring to South Africa's apartheid government, Sen. Alan Cranston (D-Calif.) said the coin would give investors and collectors "a free choice between a symbol of liberty and a symbol of race hatred."

It's been called the Holy Grail of coin collecting, and behind it lies a tale of a teetering American economy, international relations and a mysterious disappearance. This 1933 Double Eagle--its worth estimated at up to $6 million, some say more--will soon become the only coin of its kind to be owned legally. The rare $20 gold coin, which never made it into circulation as legal tender, will be on display Thursday through Sunday at the Long Beach Coin & Collectibles Expo.

Ben Abruzzo, one of the three men who made the first transatlantic balloon crossing, was killed today along with his wife and four other people when the twin-engine plane he was flying crashed near an airport. The victims were on their way to Aspen, Colo., for a skiing trip. Police spokesman Sgt. Roy Manfredi said the six victims all were from Albuquerque and included Abruzzo's wife, Pat.

Jim Murray's columns on T.C. Chen and the U.S. Open are sickening in their arrogance and condescension. Murray responds to Chen's efforts with a series of patronizing , ethnic caricatures, such as "The Chinese, they are a clever race" and "Confucius, of course, would say. . . . " How would he have responded had Nicklaus or Ballesteros shot the double-eagle and led the way? Chen does not represent the Chinese people any more than Ballesteros represents Spaniards, or Trevino Mexican-Americans.

Secret Service agents arrested two coin dealers as they were preparing to sell a rare gold coin for $1.5 million. Stephen Charles Fenton, 43, of North Harrow, England, and Jasper Parrino, 49, of Lee's Summit, Mo., were arrested last week when they met with a buyer who turned out to be a Secret Service agent, authorities said Monday. It is illegal to own an Augustus Saint-Gaudens double eagle $20 coin because it never went into circulation.

Ben Abruzzo, who took part in the first balloon crossings of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, was killed along with his wife and four other persons Monday when a twin-engine plane he was flying crashed just after taking off. "Everything was engulfed in fire," said Gary Card, 28, a state Highway Department inspector who saw the Cessna 421 crash near Coronado Airport in north Albuquerque.

I'm swimming laps in an almost-empty indoor pool, stretching out after a day of late-season skiing, the water heated just right for a workout. The huge gallery windows looking out on the mountain landscape are misty with condensation. Outside, bundled up against the chill, my wife is winding up a fly-fishing lesson. Alison's instructor grimaces as he reaches into freezing water to unhook a trout. It's nicer in here.