Associated Press
Sunday, June 4
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Hale Irwin got the hang of his new putter just in time.
Using a new Titleist putter for only the fifth time, Irwin broke from the pack of leaders with a 7-under 65 for a one-stroke victory in the BellSouth Senior Classic on Sunday.
"That might've been one of the finest putting rounds I've ever had," Irwin said of his 28 putts, which ranged from 6 feet to as long as 30 feet.
Irwin started the final round tied with three others at 11-under, and eight golfers were within a stroke as he teed off. But he birdied the first three holes and finished with seven birdies for his second victory this year.
He won the Nationwide Championship last month.
Only Gil Morgan stayed with Irwin as he tied the tournament record of 18-under 198, set by Isao Aoki in 1998. Morgan shot a 63 that kept him within a stroke of Irwin on the back nine. He had his
chances to grab a share of the lead but missed long birdie putts on each of his last three holes and finished at 199.
Morgan said it was tough to catch Irwin, who also had a 65 on Saturday.
"I played very well today, at least as well as I've played," Morgan said. "I would've liked to get it closer on the last three holes."
Tom Jenkins (66) was third at 200, and Stewart Ginn (65) was fourth at 201.
Gary Player, who started the day tied for the lead and trying to become the first man to win a PGA event in six decades, shot a 72 and finished tied for 16th.
With soft greens allowing everyone to shoot at the pin yet again, Irwin had his putter working in winning his 27th tournament in five years on the Senior Tour. Only Lee Trevino, with 28, has won more. His $225,000 winner's check put him over $1 million in winnings for a fifth straight year.
Irwin birdied seven of the first 10 holes and then held onto his lead with pars down the stretch. His putter carried him as he made a 15-footer on No. 1, a 30-footer on the second and then an 8-footer on No. 3. He went to 15-under with a 20-footer on No. 5.
"Not exactly tap-ins," Irwin said.
Irwin needed the hot putter in a tournament where the average score was 70.64, the lowest in relation to par at any event this year, on a Springhouse Golf Course that was among the tour's
easiest last year.
His only mistake came on the par-4 13th when he missed a 2-footer for a birdie that could have given him a two-stroke lead and hit it 5 feet past the hole.
But the putter saved him on the final two holes, both par-4s.
He hit his tee shot into the left rough on No. 17, and a poor chip left him with a 10-footer that he rolled in. With Morgan waiting to see if he would get into a playoff, Irwin hit his second shot on No. 18 onto the green only to watch it roll back to the edge.
Irwin saved his victory by stroking a 35-footer uphill within an inch of the hole, the kind of putt he had struggled with until Sunday.
"I told my caddie 'Wouldn't you know it would come down to this?' These long putts were driving me batty because I hadn't gotten the touch, at least until that putt. When I almost made it, it was nice to see," he said.
His performance still wasn't enough to help him start liking his putter.
"I hate that putter. I think I'm going to treat it badly," Irwin said.
Divots
Irwin improved his career earnings to more than $16.5 million, which is more than any player on any other tour.
The victory marked the first time Irwin has won at the tournament named for his sponsor and where he made his Senior Tour debut.
The 64-year-old Player, who shot his age on Friday, said that he has gotten some good news from the doctor. He has been suffering from Lyme disease for the past three weeks, and he had some blood tests run while in town. He said that his doctor told him he will only need antibiotics for seven days instead of three weeks. "And he said then I'll have it knocked out of my system, which is very good news for me," Player said.
Sunday, June 4
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Hale Irwin got the hang of his new putter just in time.
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| Hale Irwin went over $1 million in earnings for the fifth consecutive year on the Senior Tour. |
