Tom Kite may be defending his title at this week's MasterCard Championship, but it's Hale Irwin everyone will be trying to beat on the senior circuit this season. Seniors chase Irwin,
Kite on Big IsleBy Paul Arnett
parnett@starbulletin.com
Irwin became the first golfer on the Champions Tour to crack the $3 million safe in yearly earnings. One of his four victories in 2002 was at Turtle Bay, a title he will defend in the fall. By then, he hopes to be the golfer everyone else is trying to catch once more.
Tomorrow's starting times MasterCard
Championship
At Hualalai Golf Club
11 a.m.--Graham Marsh, Bruce Lietzke. 11:09--Larry Nelson, Bob Gilder. 11:18--Walter Hall, Bruce Fleisher.
11:27--Jack Nicklaus, Isao Aoki. 11:36--Jose Maria Canizares. 11:45--Gary Player, Jay Sigel. 11:54--Tom Kite, Arnold Palmer.
12:03 p.m.--Sammy Rachels, Lee Trevino. 12:12--Jim Colbert, Fuzzy Zoeller. 12:21--Ed Dougherty, Gil Morgan. 12:30--Leonard Thompson, J.C. Snead. 12:39--Doug Tewell, Hubert Green.
12:48--Jim Thorpe, Hale Irwin. 12:57--Dana Quigley, Stewart Ginn. 1:06--Dave Eichelberger, James Mason. 1:15--Steven Veriato, Tom Jenkins.
1:24--Allen Doyle, Bobby Wadkins. 1:33--Tom Watson, John Schroeder. 1:42--Mike McCullough, John Jacobs.
"You never take anything for granted out here," Irwin said after finishing second to Lee Trevino at last week's Senior Skins event on Maui. "I will be 60 in a few years, so staying in shape is very important.
"I have some tendinitis in my elbow, which has been causing me some problems lately. Keeping your body fit for the rigors of 25 tournaments is always a challenge. But I'm looking forward to the upcoming season."
As much success as Irwin has had through the years in the island chain -- 1981 Hawaiian Open winner, 1997 and 2000 champion at the Kaanapali Classic and two-time titleholder at the Turtle Bay Championship -- the 57-year-old has won the MasterCard Championship only once since it moved to the Big Island in 1997.
Last year, Kite ran away and hid from the field with a course-record 63 in the opening round en route to a six-shot victory over John Jacobs. Still, Irwin was able to get it together in the spring and summer to win four times, giving him 36 senior victories since joining the tour in 1995.
He has won $22.9 million with the senior set, which fits nicely with the 20 victories and $5.9 million he pocketed on the PGA Tour. To say Irwin is set financially is like pointing out Bill Gates isn't worried where his next meal is coming from, even with the collapse of the dot com nation.
Add in the million or so dollars he has managed to pocket in the Senior Skins and it's easy to see why cash flow is no concern for Irwin.
"For me, it's always been about competing," Irwin said. "I love coming out here as many weeks as I can to play golf with guys I've known for 30-odd years or more. You want to win every time you tee it up."
Here's an example of Irwin's competitive fire. When he picked up a Dr. Pepper, his favorite drink, after the Senior Skins ended last Saturday, a reporter reminded him that Trevino once peddled the Dallas-based drink.
"Don't mention his name," Irwin said. "I don't like the taste of finishing second."
Trevino, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus all said that Irwin remains the golfer to beat in the 2003 campaign.
"He's been the best out here for a number of years," Palmer pointed out. "And I don't see that changing anytime soon."
One golfer who wouldn't mind dethroning Irwin is Kite. He has been very familiar with the winner's circle during his career and would like nothing better than to defend his title at this week's $1.5 million MasterCard Championship.
He was only the third wire-to-wire winner in the elite Champions Tour season-opening event. Tomorrow morning, 36 others will join Kite in the field, which features winners of Champions Tour events from 2001 and 2002 and also winners of major championships from 1998-2000. The field includes sponsor exemptions for Nicklaus, Trevino, Palmer and Gary Player. It was one of three senior victories for Kite in 2002.
"I'm looking forward to coming back to Hawaii and defending the MasterCard Championship title," Kite said. "I had such a terrific week and played so well in 2002 that it will be fun to see if I can even come close to doing that again this year."
The only player to successfully defend a MasterCard Championship crown was Al Geiberger, who did so in 1993.
Tickets to the MasterCard Championship are available by calling toll free, 1-800-417-2770.
MasterCard Championship
