Irwin captures Turtle Bay event by 3

By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer

KAHUKU — Chasing Hale Irwin proved futile yesterday, as it has for much of his remarkable Senior PGA career.

Hale Irwin shot a final-round, 4-under-par 68 to hold off John Jacobs. Associated Press

Terry Mauney (67), who shared the first-round lead, tied for third with leading money winner Allen Doyle (68), at 6-under 210. Doyle has finished in the top three the last three years in Hawai'i.

Irwin's 32nd senior victory — in six-plus seasons — was sealed with a three-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole that returned his advantage to two.

"That changed the complexion of 18 completely," Irwin said.

It forced Jacobs — the tour's most prodigious driver from 1997-99 — to go for the green in two on the 539-yard, par-5 final hole. Jacobs succeeded in reaching the green, hitting his muddy ball 260 yards over the water. But his monstrous eagle putt — "It was 70, 80, maybe 100 feet," he said with a shrug — broke left when he saw right.

Jacobs missed the meaningless birdie putt that followed. It became especially meaningless when Irwin hit his third shot within six feet and finished with birdie.

Both Irwin and Jacobs felt the tournament outcome swung two hours earlier, at the par-5, 574-yard ninth hole. Irwin's lead was one shot going in — thanks to his bogey and Jacobs' birdie at No. 7 — and three coming out, after Jacobs hit his tee shot into the water.

"I let Hale out," Jacobs said. "If I could have birdied nine it could have turned the day around. I thought the wind was right to left off the tee. I really hit a good drive. The ball went out (right) and just stayed there and went into the water. It was tough to get it rolling after that.

"You can't win when you make mental errors and I made that mental error on No. 9. I made a terrible mental error. Here, five-pars are a piece of cake for me and I'm making a six on them. Your gut wants to jump out of your skin when stuff like that happens."

Irwin's reaction to Jacobs' ninth-hole agony was simple: "At that point, it was my tournament to lose."

The $225,000 first prize leaves Irwin $12,000 short of his fifth consecutive $2 million year. Basically, all he has to do is show up for that kind of cash. Since Irwin joined the senior tour, he is averaging $90,000 every week he tees it up. He has nearly $20 million in all-time earnings (PGA and Senior PGA).

Since Irwin turned 50, most of this tour has been playing for second. In Hawai'i, that feeling is magnified. Kapalua's long-time representative has won seven times here. He and Bob Charles are now the only players to win this event three times.

Yesterday's successful title defense ended one of Irwin's longest senior droughts. He hadn't won since April, his longest "slump" in five years.

"I've had the kind of year that has been a little frustrating," he admitted. "I tried to convince myself today that what has happened the last five or six months had gone by me. I was frustrated at how I performed, particularly in crucial situations."

Jacobs forced Irwin to perform yesterday, despite fighting a losing battle with a breeze that blew 15 to 20 mph — the least ferocious it had been. Jacobs, who hadn't finished higher than seventh this year, felt he let a few get away. But he sank two birdie putts from within six feet to cut his deficit to one once more at the 14th.

Irwin, meanwhile, didn't come close to a birdie, or bogey, on the back until the 17th.

"He closed pretty quickly," Irwin said. "My short irons, once again, were my Achilles' heel. Except for the last two holes. Finally, I hit a good pitching wedge at 17 and again at 18.

"I didn't want to play 18 with a one-shot lead, with John as long as he is."

Irwin, worried that he was "pressing," relaxed the grip on his wedge the last two holes and cruised home for a record 32nd time.

"Hale plays so good," Jacobs said. "In order to beat him, you've got to shoot better than 69. I know that. . . . He's the best player the senior tour has had so far."

And yesterday, Irwin said, no one was at their best. The world situation did not allow it.

"Starting the day and you see what's happening in Afghanistan, it has to put some damper on it," he said. "We certainly have to wish our armed forces luck and God watch over you because there are crazies out there. We've got to continue living our lives but that has to put it in some perspective."

SHORT PUTTS: Allen Doyle's annual late charge was, once again, too late. Doyle was tied for 34th after a first-round 73. He played the final two rounds in seven under (69-68) and soared into a tie for third. Doyle also tied for third last year on Maui, closing with 63-69, and tied for second in 1999, playing the final 45 holes in 15-under par. Doyle has 16 top-five finishes this year, and 24 top-10 finishes — two short of Lee Trevino's record. ... Former Maui resident Dick McClean tied for 39th at 220. He closed with a 73 and won $7,050. ... Kailua's Larry Stubblefield shot 77-223 and tied for 56th with Hilo-born Steve Veriato (74-223). Both earned $2,775. ... Hau'ula's Lance Suzuki shot 79-233 and won $990. ... Jay Sigel, the 1998 Ka'anapali champion, shot 30 on the back nine yesterday, leading to the tournament's best round, a 7-under 65. He moved from 44th to 10th.

The 2002 Senior PGA Tour schedule has next year's Turtle Bay Championship Oct. 4-6. ... The season-opening 2002 MasterCard Championship is Jan. 18-20 at Hualalai on the Big Island. It is followed by Senior Skins, Jan. 26-27 at Wailea. ... Jim Thorpe and Rik Massengale helped amateurs George Clift, George Clift Jr., Steven Choo and Michael Hamilton win the two-day Pro-Am. The winning team had a score of 38-under-par 106 (51-55). ... In Wednesday's Pro-Am, Bobby Wadkins set a Palmer Course record, shooting 64. Bob Gilder was low pro Thursday, at 66. ... The stroke average at Turtle Bay this week was 73.290. Last year at Ka'anapali, the players averaged 70.266 per round.