Listening to the pros talk on Mid Ocean Club's practice range yesterday morning, golf might have seemed the last thing on their mind.

Topics of conversation shifted from scuba diving to fishing to baseball's World Series...nary a word about today's $600,000 Merrill Lynch Shoot-out, which, after all, is supposedly the prime reason for this annual gathering of golf talent.

With a $150,000 cheque awaiting today's winner, the mood may be slightly more serious come 11 this morning. But don't bank on it.

If there's one thing the players seem to agree on, it's that in Bermuda there are no losers.

Forget about the cash. The Shoot-out provides an opportunity to escape the pressures of the PGA Tour, relax and compete in an event where luck can sometimes count for as much as ability, and where, win or lose, nobody complains.

It was that kind of spirit that prevailed as the ten Americans tuned up on the range yesterday morning, firing a single shot at the par three 17th for a $40,000 annuity before heading out onto the course to join local and overseas businessmen in a Pro-Am.

Defending Shoot-out champion Curtis Strange, US Open winner in 1988 and 1989, perhaps echoed the sentiments of his fellow pros when he announced in the club bar: "It's just great to be back''.

Of the field of ten, seven have played at Mid Ocean over the past two years -- Strange, Corey Pavin (winner in '94), Woody Austin, Scott Hoch, Kenny Perry, Craig Stadler and Payne Stewart. The only first-timers are John Cook, Paul Azinger and Jim Furyk.

Added Strange: "It really is a beautiful country and beautiful course to return to. We had wanted to come for years, we got the opportunity last year, and we had a ball.'' In Strange's case, having a ball might have been the last thing he expected.

The Shoot-out fell just two days after a memorable Ryder Cup in which the Americans suffered an agonising defeat on home soil and for which, fairly or unfairly, a deeply disturbed Strange was painted the villain having lost to Nick Faldo in a singles match many believe he should have won.

A year later, had the pain subsided? "Well, it doesn't still bug me,'' said Strange yesterday. "It's just one of those times in your life when you realise you didn't play well when you had to. I was disappointed and I still am...

"But in any career, I don't care who it is, there are good times and bad times. It's certainly not something I'm happy to remember but it doesn't take away from the fact that it was a great week for golf, a great match and exciting to watch.

"When I got to Bermuda I was still numb. I went into the Shoot-out completely carefree, and I won. Maybe that ought to tell us something ... you don't always have to be so determined, so hard-core to succeed.'' The victory at Mid Ocean, where he beat Scott Hoch on the final hole, remains Strange's only success in the last year. He's banked just $181,000 in winnings -- peanuts compared to previous years -- and enjoyed only one top ten finish.

"I suppose I just haven't played well,'' he mused. "I still play as much and practise, but when I get out on the course, sometimes I just don't seem to have it mentally.

"The level of competition is so strong now that the ones who really want it badly enough are the ones who separate themselves from the rest.'' Californian John Cook, making his first trip to the Island, might not altogether agree with that assessment. He's won twice on Tour this year but conceded: "Golf's just not that big a deal for me any more. It's still a lot of fun to play, and I want to be competitive, but winning's not everything.'' Like Strange, Cook is perhaps best remembered for the title he let slip away rather than the eight he actually won.

Four years ago at the British Open he appeared to have a major championship in the bag, holding a three shot lead over Nick Faldo heading down the stretch.

But at the death it was the Briton who emerged triumphant.

"Yeah, I still think about it,'' reflected Cook yesterday. "It was a great opportunity I let slip away. But life goes on and I've played well since.

There's no regrets. You can always think what might have happened if...'' Regrets are something that Craig (the Walrus) Stadler would also appear to have few of.

Always smiling and a favourite with the crowd, Stadler agreed his third trip back to the Island couldn't come too soon.

"Oh heck, we always have a great time here.

"You never know with the Shoot-out. You've got to make a lot of pars, throw in a birdie now and then, sink a 120-foot putt when you need it...'' Stadler, of course, was referring to his monster putt on the undulating 17th green two years ago, arguably one of the most dramatic moments in Shoot-out history, when he eliminated a stunned Brett Ogle before losing in a final hole play-off with Pavin.

"That was incredible,'' chuckled Stadler. "You don't make too many of those.

I wish I did.'' WATCH THE BIRDIE -- Crowd favourites Corey Pavin (above) and Craig Stadler warmed up yesterday for the today's Merrill Lynch Shoot-out. Pavin, the 1994 champion, earned the $40,000 first prize in the closest-to-the-pin contest with whis six iron tee shot at Mid Ocean's par three 17th hole.