Agassi defeat gave Bob Hope pacesetter Bertsch new career

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Had it not been for a pummeling at the hands of Andre Agassi, Shane Bertsch may have opted for a career in tennis instead of taking up golf and eventually qualifying for the PGA Tour.

Bertsch, who rocketed into a two-shot lead in Wednesday's opening round of the Bob Hope Classic at La Quinta, California, was a promising tennis player as a junior before his defeat by fellow American Agassi effectively decided his future.

"If I would have beaten Agassi, I would have probably had to pursue tennis," Berstch told reporters after carding a 10-under-par 62 on the Nicklaus Private course at PGA West.

"But (winning) wasn't even in the realm of possibilities. He was so much far and above everyone at that age.

"I just happened to play him in a big national tournament, and I was able to get a game off him. He beat me 6-0 6-1 or something, but that was a pretty good accomplishment for me."

Asked where he had played Agassi, who later became the tennis world number one and one of only six men to capture all four grand slams, Bertsch replied: "It was in Denver.

"I grew up in Denver and it was an Intermountain tournament where four state regions were playing. Actually it was my best junior tournament ever because I drew him first round, he knocked me out quick and I got into the consolation round.

"I ended up winning the consolation round, beating some guys that I had never beaten before, so it was a great tournament for me."

After deciding to focus on golf, Bertsch won his first tournament at the 1994 Southwest Kansas Pro-Am, the same year he turned professional.

He qualified for the PGA Tour in 1995 and tied for fifth the following year at the Greater Vancouver Open, to date his best finish on the highly competitive U.S. circuit.

Although he has bounced between the PGA Tour and its satellite circuit over the last 15 years, winning twice on the Nationwide Tour, his tennis memories are now dim and distant.

"I haven't played tennis in a long time," Bertsch, 39, said. "Last time I played ... I went out and banged it around with a guy that was staying in an RV (recreation vehicle) next to me.

"My back hurt for a year."

(Writing by Mark Lamport-Stokes; Editing by Nick Mulvenney)