What was the issue with Hale Irwin? (Tour history)

[Hankshank]

Don’t know why, but I found myself googling Hale Irwin, found his Wiki page and was surprised seeing how much he won on Seniors, and comparingly how few titles he had on the PGA. Was there something wrong when he was in his prime?

 

For Langer, the other player that has dominated the Seniors tour but didnt have 30+ victories on the PGA tour the answer is easy. Putting yips. Those costed him at least 10 big titles. Otherwise, his game was razor sharp. And then he found the broomstick and the rest is history.

 

Irwin is a little before my time. Ok, I played most of the 80’s but there wasnt any televised golf, more than an occasional major, in my home country. Articles, but mostly about the big names. I remember seeing his last victory at 49, after a long break, assuring that there is such a thing as muscle memory. But apart from a sloppy putt miss that costed him a BO in 84, i have no memory of him in his prime.

 

Looking at his winning record he absolutely ruled the Seniors tour, even more profoundly than Langer. But, albeit 3 US Opens, he had surprisingly few wins on the PGA tour. I remember him from the 80`s as something like a Furyk, OWGR top 10 guy maybe, but never one of the Big Three or the Big Five.

Why did he win so much more on the seniors? Did he have any issues with his game that he sorted out late in his career?

[MountainGoat]

His contemporaries who dominated the regular tour don't play the senior tour. I'm thinking of Norman, Faldo and Strange, but there are others, as well.

 

[SMAKCruiser]

He won 20 events and 3 majors. I think that's quite a bit. I don't see any issues with Hale Irwin.

[rgk5]

He was known as a constant complainer by his peers. He was probaly the greatest fairway player in history and always took a thin divot with those clubs.

[tiderider]

yeah, i don't know how 20 wins = "few wins" ... 23rd highest total, by number ... 3 majors ... one of the oldest people to win a tour event at 49 ...

i'd say he did very well for himself ...

 

as for the sr tour, didn't play against his top competition from the regular tour, as mentioned ... but he was a very competitive player who maintained his body/health, so maybe that helped him a bit more than others ...

[dpb5031]

Hale Irwin was not a long hitter, more of a controlled tactician in the way he'd pick apart a golf course, and one of the best "grinders" of all time. When he turned 50, the shorter overall yardages on the Senior (Champions) Tour suited him. Like Langer, Hale remained in excellent physical condition well into his 60s and took full advantage of it.

[Hawkeye77]

One of the best ever. He came along when Nicklaus and Trevino were still good, Miller and Weiskopf. Watson getting going, etc. Then Seve and Norman winning majors. Faldo.

 

Great career.

 

Built like a defensive back!!

[freeze16172002]

Hale won 20 times with 3 US opens, that's a hall of fame carreer. Bruce Fleisher and Allen Doyle are better examples, especially Doyle

[Lodestone]

> @Hawkeye77 said:

> One of the best ever. He came along when Nicklaus and Trevino were still good, Miller and Weiskopf. Watson getting going, etc. Then Seve and Norman winning majors. Faldo.

>

> Great career.

>

> Built like a defensive back!!

 

Good one "Built like a defensive back!!"....for you kids out there, Hale did actually play DB in college. I think it was for Colorado? But he was really built like a shortstop. Or a golfer.

 

[Big Cat 3]

Hale Irwin and the great Dick Anderson of the Miami Dolphins were the starting safeties for Colorado in the mid 60’s.

3 majors and 20 plus wins is a quite a tour career, he may have been understated because he was rather bland and blunt in play and personality ... always loved his quote about never drawing the ball “ I try to draw it and I just slice it more ... so I just keep slicing it”

[tannyhoban]

His high five trot at the 1990 US Open was the best.

[Hankshank]

Ok! Was he regarded as a Rory or a DJ in his hey days? Guess that was in the late 70`s.

[ExTrumpet]

> @"Big Cat 3" said:

> Hale Irwin and the great **** Anderson of the Miami Dolphins were the starting safeties for Colorado in the mid 60’s.

> 3 majors and 20 plus wins is a quite a tour career, he may have been understated because he was rather bland and blunt in play and personality ... always loved his quote about never drawing the ball “ I try to draw it and I just slice it more ... so I just keep slicing it”

 

Lol at the censor police!!

[Obee]

Hale was one of the shorter players on tour. Was a 247 to 258 guy, if I remember correctly. Was usually near the bottom in driving distance. In fact, three of the best players from the 70's and early 80's were short/shortish hitters: Strange, Pavin, and Irwin. In 1980 (first year the stat was available), Irwin averaged 250.2, good for 138th on the tour in driving distance. He was 35(?) at the time. Strange was 98th that year.

[Hankshank]

Having, as the European I am, only a rudimentary knowledge of American football, it surprises me that he was short from tee, hearing that he played college football. When I see an occasional match, I see guys that look like being able to hit the ball cross-atlantic.

[upndowninthree]

Two time all Big Eight. Serious.

[Darth Putter]

> @Hankshank said:

> Having, as the European I am, only a rudimentary knowledge of American football, it surprises me that he was short from tee, hearing that he played college football. When I see an occasional match, I see guys that look like being able to hit the ball cross-atlantic.

 

He played defensive back, those are among the smallest men out on the field.

 

Hale Irwin is perhaps the best long iron player ever. As mentioned he was very straight off the tee, won the US Open three times, won at Harbour Town three times, won The Memorial twice and he also won at Butler National, Westchester and the Crosby. If it was a tough course, you'd see him near the top of the leaderboard.

 

Another fun fact, with wins in the USA, Brazil, South Africa, Japan, the World Match Play at Wentworth and the Australian PGA he is one of just five golfers with wins on all six continents.

 

 

[cardoustie]

> @"Darth Putter" said:

> > @Hankshank said:

> > Having, as the European I am, only a rudimentary knowledge of American football, it surprises me that he was short from tee, hearing that he played college football. When I see an occasional match, I see guys that look like being able to hit the ball cross-atlantic.

>

> He played defensive back, those are among the smallest men out on the field.

>

> Hale Irwin is perhaps the best long iron player ever. As mentioned he was very straight off the tee, won the US Open three times, won at Harbour Town three times, won The Memorial twice and he also won at Butler National, Westchester and the Crosby. If it was a tough course, you'd see him near the top of the leaderboard.

>

> Another fun fact, with wins in the USA, Brazil, South Africa, Japan, the World Match Play at Wentworth and the Australian PGA he is one of just five golfers with wins on all six continents.

>

>

Long irons? Almost all historians will say Miller, Nicklaus and Hogan

 

[gvogel]

> @Obee said:

> Hale was one of the shorter players on tour. Was a 247 to 258 guy, if I remember correctly. Was usually near the bottom in driving distance. **In fact, three of the best players from the 70's and early 80's were short/shortish hitters:** Strange, Pavin, and Irwin. In 1980 (first year the stat was available), Irwin averaged 250.2, good for 138th on the tour in driving distance. He was 35(?) at the time. Strange was 98th that year.

 

IF that isn't a great argument for rolling back the ball and the driver, I don't know what it.

[cardoustie]

Man his shot out of the rocks on 18 at Pebble broke a poor Canadian's heart

[cardoustie]

Like Bruce Leitzke he grooved a slight OTT move and was deadly accurate

Ideal for the older style US Open set ups

[Darth Putter]

> @cardoustie said:

> Man his shot out of the rocks on 18 at Pebble broke a poor Canadian's heart

 

Perhaps the best bounce I've ever seen in a pro tournament.

 

The two iron out of the bunker at #16 in the playoff was incredible.

[JohnnyCashForever]

> @"Darth Putter" said:

If it was a tough course, you'd see him near the top of the leaderboard.

 

>

Agreed. Winged Foot in '74.

 

Hale Irwin was a great player. Even with the glasses, he came across as someone who you didn't want to mess with. Same level as Raymond Floyd, in terms of grit and toughness, IMO.

 

 

 

[BIG STU]

> @ExTrumpet said:

> > @"Big Cat 3" said:

> > Hale Irwin and the great **** Anderson of the Miami Dolphins were the starting safeties for Colorado in the mid 60’s.

> > 3 majors and 20 plus wins is a quite a tour career, he may have been understated because he was rather bland and blunt in play and personality ... always loved his quote about never drawing the ball “ I try to draw it and I just slice it more ... so I just keep slicing it”

>

> Lol at the censor police!!

 

LOL yep these days on here he has to be refereed to as Richard Anderson just like there is now Richard's Sporting Goods or DSG as far as the censor police on WRX are concerned

[BIG STU]

> @Obee said:

> Hale was one of the shorter players on tour. Was a 247 to 258 guy, if I remember correctly. Was usually near the bottom in driving distance. In fact, three of the best players from the 70's and early 80's were short/shortish hitters: Strange, Pavin, and Irwin. In 1980 (first year the stat was available), Irwin averaged 250.2, good for 138th on the tour in driving distance. He was 35(?) at the time. Strange was 98th that year.

 

Yep and all 3 of them were exceptional ball strikers too--- And Pavin was deadly with that old Bulls eye putter still is at times on the Champion's tour

[teejaywhy]

> @MountainGoat said:

> His contemporaries who dominated the regular tour don't play the senior tour. I'm thinking of Norman, Faldo and Strange, but there are others, as well.

>

 

None of these guys are contemporaries of Irwin, he is ten years their senior. More like Nicklaus, Watson, Miller...

Turned pro in 1968

First win in 1971

Third US Open in 1990 at age 45.

Last Tour victory in 1994 at age 49.

Pretty good career. The '90 open was memorable. A colleague and I used to make bets on the majors. I think we would pick 5 names to start and after the first round you could drop one and pick one up. I picked Irwin. We both had a laff on Friday but I was the only one laughing on Sunday.

 

Who can forget his high-five victory lap after making 60' birdie to tie for the playoff:

[https://youtube.com/watch?v=ke1yRrJO6NI](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ke1yRrJO6NI "https://youtube.com/watch?v=ke1yRrJO6NI")

 

 

[Shilgy]

> @tiderider said:

> yeah, i don't know how 20 wins = "few wins" ... 23rd highest total, by number ... 3 majors ... one of the oldest people to win a tour event at 49 ...

> i'd say he did very well for himself ...

>

> as for the sr tour, didn't play against his top competition from the regular tour, as mentioned ... but he was a very competitive player who maintained his body/health, so maybe that helped him a bit more than others ...

 

He's 34th on the win list. Hmm, "by number" do you mean five guys tied counts as just one ahead of him??

[Big Cat 3]

> @cardoustie said:

> > @"Darth Putter" said:

> > > @Hankshank said:

> > > Having, as the European I am, only a rudimentary knowledge of American football, it surprises me that he was short from tee, hearing that he played college football. When I see an occasional match, I see guys that look like being able to hit the ball cross-atlantic.

> >

> > He played defensive back, those are among the smallest men out on the field.

> >

> > Hale Irwin is perhaps the best long iron player ever. As mentioned he was very straight off the tee, won the US Open three times, won at Harbour Town three times, won The Memorial twice and he also won at Butler National, Westchester and the Crosby. If it was a tough course, you'd see him near the top of the leaderboard.

> >

> > Another fun fact, with wins in the USA, Brazil, South Africa, Japan, the World Match Play at Wentworth and the Australian PGA he is one of just five golfers with wins on all six continents.

> >

> >

> Long irons? Almost all historians will say Miller, Nicklaus and Hogan

>

Irwin was tremendous with fairway woods

 

 

[Big Cat 3]

> @JohnnyCashForever said:

> > @"Darth Putter" said:

> If it was a tough course, you'd see him near the top of the leaderboard.

>

> >

> Agreed. Winged Foot in '74.

>

> Hale Irwin was a great player. Even with the glasses, he came across as someone who you didn't want to mess with. Same level as Raymond Floyd, in terms of grit and toughness, IMO.

>

>

>

Irwin wasn’t know for his warmth ... Mark O’Meara tells that great story when he was a rookie and paired with Irwin. O’Meara wasn’t playing well and walked up to Irwin on the final hole and said “Mr. Irwin, sorry I played so poorly” Irwin gave him a glare and said “ The sooner you figure out I dont give a f*** about how you played, the better off you will be”

There you have Hale Irwin lol

 

 

[MountainGoat]

> @teejaywhy said:

> > @MountainGoat said:

> > His contemporaries who dominated the regular tour don't play the senior tour. I'm thinking of Norman, Faldo and Strange, but there are others, as well.

> >

>

> None of these guys are contemporaries of Irwin, he is ten years their senior. More like Nicklaus, Watson, Miller...

> Turned pro in 1968

> First win in 1971

> Third US Open in 1990 at age 45.

> Last Tour victory in 1994 at age 49.

> Pretty good career. The '90 open was memorable. A colleague and I used to make bets on the majors. I think we would pick 5 names to start and after the first round you could drop one and pick one up. I picked Irwin. We both had a laff on Friday but I was the only one laughing on Sunday.

>

> Who can forget his high-five victory lap after making 60' birdie to tie for the playoff:

> [https://youtube.com/watch?v=ke1yRrJO6NI](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ke1yRrJO6NI "https://youtube.com/watch?v=ke1yRrJO6NI")

>

>

Point taken. He’s older than I remembered.