What's new this year at the Northville Long Island Classic?

Well, for one thing, it's not called the Northville anymore. Northville Industries decided late last year to drop its costly title sponsorship. Shortly thereafter, the Woodbury-based Cablevision Systems Corporation seized the opportunity for some name exposure. And so from August 2 - 8, when the Senior PGA Tour returns to Jericho's Meadow Brook Club for the 13th consecutive year, it will be for what is now called the Lightpath Long Island Classic.

Also, the Classic has been moved back in the schedule to the beginning of August, where it was in 1997. Last year, the main tournament was held from August 21 - 23 - a popular weekend for vacationing - which resulted in an attendance drop.

But to the golf fan, the truly significant changes will be to the field of competitors. According to longtime tournament director Jack Russell, the 1999 field will look quite different from recent years, as several contenders will be testing the difficult, but highly-regarded course for the first time in their careers.

Among these contenders is a new contingent of dynamic senior "rookies" who have burst onto the scene, including Allen Doyle, Bruce Fleisher, Jim Thorpe and Howard Twitty. Their names aren't familiar, but you can already find Doyle's and Fleisher's etched on several Senior PGA Tour trophies.

Fleisher has four first-place finishes this year, and in June Doyle won the Ford Senior Players Championship. They are first and third, respectively, on the money list. Said Russell, "They don't have the superstar image of a [Raymond] Floyd or [Lee] Trevino, but they are playing wonderful golf."

Russell continued, "They have virtually taken the limelight away from Hale Irwin and Gil Morgan," the two Senior PGA Tour veterans who have been winning at the top of the money list. "It's going to be interesting for fans to see these guys, because they're playing at an outstanding level."

Lightpath tournament organizers are particularly excited to have convinced Ireland's Christy O'Connor to island-hop the Atlantic and participate in the event. The European Tour specialist was finally able to join the Senior PGA Tour this year as a non-exempt player. In his first seven events, he has already earned nearly $400,000. He won his first American Tournament on July 4 at the State Farm Classic, dedicating the victory to his son Darren, who lost his life in an automobile accident last September.

In his sophomore season on the Senior PGA Tour, 51-year-old Larry Nelson, winner of the 1983 U.S. Open and the 1981 and 1987 PGA Championships, will also undergo his Meadow Brook Club initiation.

Despite the infusion of all this new blood, most of the fans will come to view the traditional favorites, the living legends. Among them are past champions John Bland, Raymond Floyd, Dana Quigley and two-time champion Lee Trevino, who will arrive by helicopter each day from his home in the Hamptons. Also expected to play are Northville regulars Jim Albus, Bob Charles, Jim Colbert, Jim Dent, Larry Laoretti, J.C. Snead and Chi Chi Rodriguez.

The two men who earlier this month finished one and two at the U.S. Senior Open - Dave Eichelberger and Ed Dougherty - will also be competing in the Classic. Dougherty held the lead for three rounds of the Open before succumbing to Eichelberger's late surge.

"Since our tournament takes place only three weeks after the Senior U.S. Open took place, people will be interested to see both of them," said Russell.

Russell concluded, "We will have a very good field and a lot of familiar and top-notch names."

It doesn't get more top-notch than last year's champion Gary Player who, at 63 years old, will return to defend his title. The legendary South African, who practices serenity and performs 1,000 sit-ups per day, shot a steady 68-68-68-204 one year ago and believes he is fit enough to triumph again.

Tournament General Chairman Gene M. Bernstein said back on Media Day, last June 1, "[Player] was our first winner in 1987...and we were again thrilled in 1998 to welcome Gary back to the winner's circle."

"Having Gary Player with us whenever he can fit it into his schedule is always special. He loves this tournament, and he loves the course," said Russell.

The only two golfers whose careers are on a higher plane than Player's - Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer - are long shots to participate. Palmer recently announced that he will limit his future play and possibly retire if he can no longer play competitively. Nicklaus has a hip injury, and is unlikely to risk further damage by playing too soon. As of Thursday, July 22, Russell said of both legends, "He hasn't said no." Golfers have until the week before the tournament to make their decision.

For over a decade, the perpetual star of the tournament has been Long Island. Because Northville Industries never sold commercial products, it used its air time during past ESPN broadcasts to promote the area, with cooperation from the Long Island Visitors and Convention Bureau.

With Charles Dolan's Cablevision the new title sponsor, it was unclear if promotions for Lightpath, Cablevision's telephone division, would usurp ESPN's segments on Long Island tourism and business. Russell has confirmed that the segments will continue, adding that the tournament and its charitable cause, Schneider Children's Hospital, can only benefit from Cablevision's involvement.

"Cablevision will be able to promote the tournament through all of its Cable facilities in ways that we could never afford," explained Russell. Plus, the multiyear contract with Cablevision has enabled the tournament to raise its purse another $200,000, for a total of $1,200,000. The winner will receive a $180,000 grand prize. The purse will continue to increase over the next two years.

Though the real competition doesn't begin until Friday, August 6, there are a number of exciting programs that the Classic will be offering from Monday to Thursday. On Tuesday, August 3 at 11:30 a.m. the Meadow Brook Club will host the Classic's third-annual Women, Golf & Business luncheon. The seminar, which encourages women to use golf as a business tool, will be led by comedienne Becky Donohue and editor-in-chief of Golf for Women magazine Leslie Day. The fee is $50.

Other events are completely free, such as the Junior Clinic, which will be held at the 10th tee on August 3 at 2 p.m. Youngsters 17 and under and their parents or guardians are invited to attend the clinic, which features Senior PGA Tour pro Bob Duval, father of PGA star David Duval. Kids will receive a free hat and can watch the Gillette Tour Challenge, held later that day, at no charge.

Finally, as part of a Senior PGA Tour initiative, there will be a free dental clinic for underprivileged children from Monday, August 2 to Wednesday, August 4.

To purchase tickets to the Lightpath Long Island Classic, call Schneider Children's Hospital at (516) 674-GOLF.