Morgan charges to MasterCard victory

He wins the season opener in record fashion

By Bill Kwon
Star-Bulletin

KAILUA-KONA - Not just whales were frolicking at the Kona Coast over the weekend.

Gil Morgan began the 1998 Senior PGA Tour season in the same place he finished 1997 - in the winner's circle.

Morgan, who ended last year with a victory in the Energizer Senior Tour Championship, captured the MasterCard Championship at the Hualalai Resort golf course. His record-shattering performance in the season-opening tournament, for 1997 Senior Tour champions, was worth $200,000.

The good doctor was on with a final-round 8-under 64 for a 54-hole 195 and a six-stroke victory over Hale Irwin and Gibby Gilbert. Morgan's 21-under finish - a tournament record - was the second lowest in a 54-hole Senior Tour event.

En route to his whale of a victory, Morgan posted a 36-hole 131, also the lowest in the 15-year history of the tournament. Morgan birdied the final hole for 64, which tied the Hualalai course record.

Irwin, last year's Senior PGA Tour Player of the Year, also finished with a 64 in his attempt to overtake Morgan. Last year, Irwin and Morgan finished one-two, respectively, on the money list, combining for 15 victories.

"I was known as 'He was No. 2,' " Morgan said.

But not this weekend.

"He's the guy that picked up where he left off, not me," Irwin said. "I tell you right now, he's the guy wearing the bull's-eye."

There's no question Morgan is the hottest golfer on any tour right now. Move over David Duval and Tiger Woods. Uh, excuse me, too, Hale.

Morgan has won three consecutive official tournaments dating back to last year. He ended the year with back-to-back victories in the Ralphs Senior Classic and the Energizer Tour Championship before the MasterCard Championship.

Also, Morgan has finished in the top 10 in 14 of his last 15 Senior Tour starts, dating back to June, and has shot par or better in 12 straight rounds and 40 of his last 41.

No wonder Morgan, who holds a doctorate in optometry, hasn't gone into practice. He's making more money playing golf.

"I thought maybe it was a possibility when I first started out," Morgan said. "It's good to have something to fall back on."

Morgan had 19 birdies, an eagle and only one bogey in the tournament. Not bad for someone playing "a little conservative in some respects."

"I felt like I had to play a halfway decent round to survive," Morgan said. "My goal was to get to 20-under. If I did, they (his immediate challengers) had to shoot fantastic scores to get close enough. I knew as long as I didn't make a serious mistake, I would be in good shape."

Starting the day two shots ahead of Gilbert, Morgan birdied the second hole and got up-and-down with an eight-foot putt to save par on No. 3. He eagled the 526-yard, par-5 fourth by sinking an 18-foot putt and birdied the next hole, a 205-yard par-3, by dropping a 20-footer.

That gave him the separation he needed, Morgan said. And Irwin knew it. He found trying to catch Morgan was like running on a treadmill.

"I told my caddy I was 7-under after 10 holes and made up only one stroke on Gil," said Irwin, who made the turn at 6-under 30 yesterday.

For Irwin and Gilbert and the trio of Dave Stockton, David Graham and Vicente Fernandez, who tied for fourth at 202, it was a matter of playing for second.