LIFE is good on the Senior PGA Tour. Hale, yes: Irwin
cashing in on mulliganJust ask Hale Irwin.
"Don't wake me up from a good dream," said Irwin, who's back to defend his title in the EMC Kaanapali Classic beginning tomorrow at the Royal Kaanapali North Course on Maui.
He has earned more money in less than four years on the Senior Tour than he has in 26 years on the PGA Tour.
In 1997, he became the first to win $2 million in one year on any tour. This year, with three tournaments remaining, Irwin has already won $2.49 million. Combining earnings on both tours, Irwin is the all-time money leader with $13.1 million.
And Irwin thinks he has a few good years left. But it's not just about money, which is a little skewed anyway, he says.
"We're playing for a lot more money than guys like (Sam) Snead and (Ben) Hogan did in the old days," he said.
Still, Irwin realizes that money is a yardstick.
"But my yardstick is the number of wins," Irwin said. "So is 1998 a better year than last year? I might have won more money this year, but I'm two (victories) behind last year's pace."
Irwin captured last year's Kaanapali Classic with a 54-hole score of 13-under 200 for his ninth victory of the season, tying Peter Thomson's record set in 1985.
IRWIN has won six times this year and knows he's running out of tournaments. After this week, only two events remain -- the Pacific Bell Senior and the Energizer Senior Tour Championship.
With Gil Morgan and Larry Nelson, second and third, respectively, on the money list, skipping Kaanapali, Irwin should be the one to beat this weekend.
For Irwin, the decision to play at Kaanapali is a no-brainer since he loves Maui and represents the Kapalua Resort up the road.
Irwin already has clinched the money title and said he thinks Morgan skipped Kaanapali to concentrate on the final two tournaments as he's the defending champion in both.
With one more victory, Irwin will become only the second golfer to make the "20-20" club.
Only Lee Trevino has won 20 or more times on both tours. Gary Player, who like Irwin also has 19 Senior Tour victories, can also get to "20-20" this week.
"Certainly, I'd like to do it here," said Irwin, who said reaching the mark is in the back of his mind, but not a specific goal.
"I just want to play good golf. Before you run, you have to walk. Before you walk, you have to crawl," Irwin said of his philosophy of taking things one at a time.
IT must be working. He has finished in the top five in 18 of 19 tournaments this year.
"My overall play has been so exceptional," said Irwin, who admits he is a bit surprised by how well he has played, considering all the diversions he's had to deal with.
"I have a lot on the plate right now. My design business, building a new home in Arizona, which we'll move into next year. The stabilizing factor in the whole equation is my golf," he said.
Like fine wine, he's aging well.
For Irwin, the Senior Tour isn't just a good life, it's a second life -- the ultimate mulligan.
"I don't think anybody thought it'd be this successful," Irwin said. "The Senior Tour started as a parade of champions, enabling them to exhibit some remaining skills."
Now, more and more young people are coming to see the seniors play, according to Irwin.
"Golf's a lifetime sport, from cradle to the grave," he said. "I hope that's the message we're sending."
Meanwhile, Irwin is sending his own message. One with a lot of dollar signs.