AROUND THE GREENS
Senior 'Ironman' keeps playing
By Bill Kwon
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| Dana Quigley finished at 18 under last year to capture the MasterCard Championship at Hualalai.
Associated Press library • Feb. 2003 2004 MasterCard Championship WHAT: Champions Tour season-opening event WHEN: From 10:30 a.m. tomorrow and Saturday, and 10:15 a.m. Sunday. PRO-AM: Today from approximately 7:30 a.m. WHERE: Hualalai Golf Club at Kaupulehu, Big Island (Par 36-36i72, 7,097 yards) PURSE: $1.6 million ($240,000 first prize) DEFENDING CHAMPION: Dana Quigley (18-under 198) FIELD: 39 Champions Tour winners from 2002 and 2003 seasons, major champions from past five years, and sponsor exemptions Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Lee Trevino. ADMISSION: $10 daily, $25 tournament pass (all week). Children 12-under free with ticket-bearing adult. TV COVERAGE: Golf Channel, 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. (HST) daily INFORMATION: 1 (800) 417-2770. |
Thirty-six holes a day. Every day of the week, every week of the year.
"I can't go a day without playing golf," Quigley said.
It's no wonder that Quigley, the defending champion in the MasterCard Championship starting tomorrow at the Hualalai Golf Club on the Big Island, will be making his 233rd consecutive start on the Champions Tour.
The only one to play all 31 official events last year, Quigley can't wait for the 2004 PGA senior tour season to begin.
In fact, Quigley said he was just dreaming about Hualalai the other day.
Even after golfing that day, you still dream about golf that night?
"Of course. That's all I think about. You're talking to a wacko. Even my wife thinks I'm nuts. You've got to understand that," said Quigley in a teleconference call from his home in West Palm Beach, Fla., last week.
The conference call, originating from his home course of Bear Lakes Country Club, was delayed several minutes because Quigley was just putting out on the 18th green — his 36th hole of the day.
"Fire away," said golf's Ironman, who never looked back after getting a sponsor's exemption in the 1997 BankBoston Classic and Monday qualifying the following week to win the Northville Long Island Classic for the first of his eight senior tour victories.
A Q and A with Quigley:
Are you anxious to get the year started?
"Of course. You wait so long until you're 50, you shoot right out there. Our tour's a little different. You don't pick and choose. Nobody waits."
How's your chances of successfully defending your title?
"I play 36 holes a day every day. I figure I got a little edge on the guys. And I love that golf course (Hualalai). I always play well there even if I don't win there."
What are the keys to playing Hualalai?
"You've got to play the par 3s well. The fifth hole is an absolute must. Par's good there. Eight's a great par-3 and 17 is (Jack) Nicklaus' signature hole and difficult with the pin on the left. Everybody thought I missed my shot when I went at it last year. And there's no gimme birdies on the par 5s."
How is it being the defending champion?
"The guys in it maybe are talking about me. It's a thrill."
Old guys all have aches and pains. Why are you able to keep going?
"I'll be 57 in April. Fortunately, my health has been good. I don't do any workout. I do it on the golf course. I don't hit any balls. Might hit about six balls just to break up the calcium deposits.
"We ride golf carts but we keep them on the cart path. You'd be surprised how much walking you still do. It's hard to get hurt playing golf. And when that adrenaline gets going, you don't feel any pain."
What are your goals for this year, other than keeping the streak going?
"Concentrate a little more on the Schwab Cup tournaments. Play well in the major championships. The points are triple in the majors.
"Got to beat guys like Tom Watson, Hale Irwin and Craig Stadler. He's the guy I look forward to being the leading money winner this year. And Jake (Peter Jacobsen). I'm going to take a pay cut because of him. But I'm not going to take a week off because of them."
You've earned $9 million playing on the Champions Tour with six straight $1 million seasons. Is that a motivation?
"I play with my nephew (PGA Tour pro) Brett Quigley without betting a penny and I'm still motivated. I don't need money to get motivated. I absolutely love the game. You've got to kick me off the golf course."
Have you ever come close to missing a tournament?
"Not close because of an injury or a lack of interest. One time, probably in 1999, I thought about taking a week off because Bob Rotella said no great player plays every week. By Wednesday of that week I was scratching, so I played."
Your thoughts about Turtle Bay not being on the 2004 schedule?
"It's important for the players to have a tournament in Hawai'i. I'm sure (Tim) Finchem (PGA Tour commissioner) is trying his best to find a sponsor. The last thing we want to do is lose a tournament.
"I'm sure it'll be on the 2005 schedule. When you put it behind the MasterCard, you're going to get all the big players. It'll be much better."
Who's your all-time favorite golfer?
"Arnie (Palmer) is probably the coolest guy I've ever met in golf."
What are you going to do when you finally retire from golf?
"That's when I get a boat. There's a lot of beautiful intracoastal waters in Florida."
Bill Kwon can be reached at bkwon@aloha.net.
