Associated Press
Thursday, August 3

COON RAPIDS, Minn. -- Hale Irwin has been a fixture atop the leaderboard at the last three Coldwell Banker Burnet Classics. There's no reason to believe that will change this year.

Irwin captured Burnet championships in 1997 and 1999, breaking 70 in all six rounds. He also shared third place in a rain-shortened 1998 event. He set the 54-hole tournament record in 1997 with his 199 total, and tied the 18-hole tournament record in 1999 when he opened with an 8-under par 64.

"This course, with some tighter fairways, sets my game up well," Irwin said. "I like it because it makes me focus. The greens and overall course conditions look to be in as good of shape as I've seen in my five years here."

Irwin said the favorable course conditions and several prime birdie holes will reward consistency this weekend.

"It's the kind of course where you can't afford an indiscreet shot," Irwin said. "That's where the pressure comes in. If you miss a short putt or make a poor shot, you will hear the stampede of players going past you on the leaderboard."

A few notable challengers will be missing Friday when Irwin starts his bid for a third Burnet championship in four years. The 54-hole event at the 6,909-yard Bunker Hills layout has a $1.6 million purse, including a $240,000 winner's payout.

Four of the top 12 money winners on the 2000 Senior Tour aren't in the 78-player field. The 2000 tour's leading money winner, Bruce Fleisher, is absent, as are marquee tour rookies Tom Kite, Doug Tewell and Tom Watson, who rank seventh, 10th and 12th, respectively.

Fleisher moved past Irwin atop the 2000 earnings list with his victory at last weekend's Long Island Classic. Irwin, who skipped the Long Island event, has won $1,647,948 with three firsts in 16 events. Fleisher has won $1,837,906 with four victories in 21 tournaments.

The 2000 Senior Tour has produced eight different champions in the last eight events. Besides Irwin, others to watch include the Nos. 3-6 players on the 2000 money list -- Larry Nelson, Dana Quigley, Gil Morgan and Allen Doyle.

Irwin has three Senior wins this year -- all in an eight-week stretch from May 14-July 2. He also has 11 top-six finishes in his 16 starts this year.

Irwin became the first player to reach $11 million in career Senior earnings when he pocketed a record purse of $400,000 for winning the U.S. Senior Open.

"My game since the Senior Open has been a little down on the momentum side," Irwin said. "But that's somewhat inevitable. I don't think you can emotionally stay atop the mountain every week."

With 28 Senior victories in his six seasons, Irwin is one win away from tying Lee Trevino's record of 29 championships. A win this weekend also would let Irwin become the first Senior player to win four or more tournaments in four consecutive seasons.

This is the eighth and final Burnet tournament to be played on the Bunker Hills course in Coon Rapids. The 2001 Burnet will move to a newly-opened TPC course in nearby Blaine.