Notebook: Coming Off U.S. Open, Irwin Focused
By Ken Klavon, USGA
Baltimore, Md. – Hale Irwin is aware of his surroundings.
He is mindful of where he’s been, what he has accomplished
and where the game is headed. Arrogant? No. Opinionated? Sometimes.
Driven? At 57, he still has the fire.
Irwin arrived here early, getting one practice round in Sunday
and another on Monday. Before Thursday’s start, he hopes to
play at least two more rounds as he prepares to notch his
sixth USGA championship.
USGA championships have defined his career. He has won three
U.S. Opens (1974 at Winged Foot, 1979 at Inverness and 1990
at Medinah) and two Senior Opens (1998 at Riviera and 2000
at Saucon Valley).
This weekend he made the trek from Arizona, where he is building
a home. After playing in the U.S. Open at Bethpage a couple
weeks ago, he thought Arizona would be the best place for
a needed respite as he channeled his energy toward the Senior
Open. It didn’t quite turn out that way.
Wildfires have ravaged more than 300,000 acres in the highlands
of eastern Arizona, putting Irwin and family on alert. His
home, so far, has been spared.
"I was busy fightin’ fires," he said.
He knew he couldn’t do much more than wait it out, so he
headed to Baltimore early. With a virus to boot.
"You never get quality practice time there," said
Irwin through sniffles. "The best place to go is to the
course where the major is at. I wanted to come here focused."
He also wanted to get a head start on others because of his
recent experience on Bethpage’s Black Course, which was the
longest Open course in history. Irwin missed the cut, shooting
a 23-over 163. What Bethpage, however, prepared Irwin’s mental
side since he knew Caves Valley was a long setup for a Senior
event (7,005-yard par 71).
"Playing Bethpage was such a brutal golf course,"
he said. "It’s not unlike the final two holes here –
the same type of long par 4s you saw at Bethpage.
"One of the reasons why I played Bethpage was so this
one would seem a little shorter. For some of the guys coming
in, this is going to seem long, and it is."
There are three par 5s, the longest being 580 yards. Then
there are three 455-yard or better par 4s, all of which should
favor the long hitter.
On Monday, paired with 1997 Senior Open champ Graham Marsh,
Irwin attacked Caves Valley in search of any nuance that might
provide him an advantage when the first round rolls around.
He even found time to joke.
On the 14th green, as Marsh was putting three
balls toward an imaginary hole, Irwin’s lob shot from a left-side
bunker narrowly missed the unsuspecting Australian’s head.
Someone yelled, "Look out!"
Marsh ducked just as the ball whizzed by. The gallery went
quiet.
From afar, Irwin said, "Did I miss you?"
"Yes," said Marsh.
"Awww, darn," quipped Irwin. Everyone laughed.
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| Hale Irwin, bidding to win his third Senior
Open, practices on the 11th green Monday. (Matthew
Schwenderman/USGA) |
Irwin even had time for the gallery. Autograph hounds placed
flags, hats and programs in his path as he made his way from
hole to hole. Irwin stopped and obliged. Even for photos sometimes.
Doesn’t that disrupt the concentration levels, the sole purpose
of practicing? Well, it was only Monday.
"Sometimes you’re trying to carry the focus from hole
to hole," said Irwin. "I understand signing is important.
I played with Jack [Nicklaus] at Augusta when he just didn’t
do it. Some guys just won’t do it. They don’t want that concentration
broken."
Irwin paused. His mind raced. It was clear he was about to
make a testimonial about the state of the game today.
"We are part of a game where we have to be more cognizant
of the things around us," he said. "I think we have
a lot of good things in the game. If every player does his
job – by that I mean people are here to see good shot-making.
That could be a par sometimes. Some players are hung up on
birdies when par would do the job.
"It’s sort of an attitude thing we have to overcome.
It’s about perception."
To understand Irwin fully is to know that he hasn’t been
afraid to take the mantle on behalf of golf and the Senior
Tour. He understands more than anyone that with Jack Nicklaus
and Arnold Palmer, the two majestic torch bearers of the game,
fading, there needs to be someone – an ambassador if you will
– who will fill the gap in the same admirable fashion. By
no means is Irwin claiming to be the next torch carrier, but
he knows he is one of the bigger draws among the older generation.
What it boils down to is how one represents the game.
"The perception of Nicklaus, Lee [Trevino], Arnie [Palmer],
Chi Chi [Rodriguez] isn’t going to go on. Jack and Arnie haven’t
been playing up to what their standards have been in the past.
"Is golf over? No, I don’t think so. I don’t think of
myself as someone carrying the torch, but someone who supports
the game and stands up for what is right about the game. The
game has to be fun or we won’t get the people out here."
Comings And Goings
Besides Nicklaus’ withdrawal on Monday, there were others
as well.
J.C. Snead, who won the Greater Baltimore Classic over the
weekend, withdrew Monday morning, citing exhaustion. Snead,
61, held off Bobby Wadkins, Doug Tewell and John Mahaffey
to win by a stroke. Snead shot a 13-under 203 for the tournament.
However, hot and sticky conditions exacted a toll.
Alternate Rick Talt of Laguna Beach, Calif., who shot a 71
in sectional qualifying on June 17 in San Diego, will take
Snead’s spot. He’ll be paired with 1999 Senior Open champ
Dave Eichelberger and Vicente Fernandez.
… Also on Monday Alfred Cotton, of Las Vegas, was added to
the field. He got in because a spot was being saved for the
winner of the Greater Baltimore Classic if he already wasn’t
exempt. Since Snead already was exempt, based on being in
the Top 50 on the money list of the Senior PGA Tour this year,
Cotton got the call.
… Bob Duval withdrew on Sunday because of a knee injury.
Alternate Tony Banks, of Fayetteville, N.C., will take his
place and play with Bobby Cole and Thomas Jung in the first
two rounds.
Ken Klavon is the USGA Web Editor. E-mail him at kklavon@usga.org.
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