Sunday, October 7, 2001
[ HAWAII GOLF ]
Irwin in position The aches and pains Hale Irwin once played through as a youth have caught him in his golden years.
to end victory drought
The second-round leader at
Turtle Bay hasn't won since AprilBy Paul Arnett
parnett@starbulletin.comStill able to strike a golf ball with power most 20-somethings would steal away in the blink of a swing, it's the ankle sprain and the tendinitis in his wrist that have led to an unusual six-month victory stoppage for today's leader entering the final round of the $1.5 million Turtle Bay Championship.
This stretch that dates back to a win in Hoover, Ala., last April wouldn't necessarily bother the average guy on the Senior PGA Tour. But when you're the only man to win at least five tournaments in three consecutive seasons, two victories in 2001 is subpar.
That's why holding the lead entering this morning's 9:20 tee time left Irwin feeling a little frisky in the press room yesterday afternoon. After learning alma mater Colorado had upset Kansas State in football, Irwin let out a whoop and a "Let's go Buffs!" yell they might have heard in Boulder had the windows been open.
First, Irwin explained how he carded five birdies en route to a 4-under 68 on this blustery fall day at the Arnold Palmer course. He then spoke about how his 35-year-old mind is growing accustomed to his 56-year-old body. Not that he's ready for a rocking chair on the 19th hole of life, mind you. Irwin is still statistically sound.
"I asked my caddy the other day who he thought was leading the Senior Tour in putting," Irwin said after building a two-shot lead over Hubert Green and first-round leader John Jacobs. "He reeled off a few names, then stopped and said, 'You?' ... Yeah."
Irwin used that putting stroke to overcome the learning curve of a different golf ball on a new course. Applying more spin than an aide to President Bush, the all-time leading money winner on the Senior Tour put a new model golf ball in his bag on Tuesday. Irwin theorizes that less spin has led to a better trajectory in the trades.
When his yardage is right, Irwin has handled the flat blade on the greens rather nicely. He not only sank several birdie tries, but believes the 6-foot putt he made for par on No. 9 and the eight-footer on the 11th hole are the real reasons he was one of three golfers to shoot in the 60s.
The others are Tom McGinnis, who equaled Irwin's 68, and Allen Doyle. Doyle's 69 shot him up the leaderboard from a tie for 34th after Friday's opening round of 73 to a tie for seventh today. He is first in the Schwab Cup chase, leading Bruce Fleisher, who decided Wednesday to sit this one out, by 149 points.
Fleisher will likely play in the remaining three events on the Senior Tour in hopes of catching Doyle and pocketing the $1 million first prize. Second pays $500,000. Irwin is in third, but is unlikely to unseat Doyle by season's end.
"The biggest difference for me has been these ailments that affected my swing over the summer," Irwin said. "They're not really injuries. Just minor sprains."
Irwin is still third on the money list and third in scoring with a 69.26 average, trailing only Doyle and Gil Morgan. But the numbers don't always tell the story. Some days Irwin shoots a 66, other days he throws a 73 into the mix. It averages out well enough, but those gyrations, as he calls them, keep him from being in the winner's circle more often.
"That's why it feels good to be in this position again," Irwin said. "The hardest thing for me right now is committing to the shot. It's been awhile since we've played in this kind of gusting wind. We're all still learning the course. Friday we had a lot of rain and now with all this wind, the course is drying out."
Irwin and Green were playing partners yesterday and will be together again today. Green rode the tradewinds well enough for a solid 70, including a birdie on the final hole. After a bad drive, Green decided to lay up on the par-5 hole. Playing partner George Archer, who was 5-under at the time, opted to follow Irwin's lead and go for the green in two.
"His shot went into the water and he wound up with a double bogey," Green explained. "My third shot was two feet away for a birdie. That's the difference where he is and I am entering the final round."
John Jacobs is also 5-under after following his 68 on Friday with a 71 yesterday. Don Pooley is in fourth with a 4-under 140. Archer and Dick Mast are tied for fifth with two-day totals of 141.