Archer wins by two shots

Winning keeps getting in the way of George Archer's retirement plans.

"I wanted to retire two years ago, but I won in Michigan," the 60-year-old golfer said today after winning the MasterCard Championship for the second time in 10 years.

"Last year, I had a pretty good year, even though I didn't win. ... I plan to win this tournament every 10 years. Nah, I'm just kidding."

Archer, who had hip replacement surgery in 1996, closed with a 3-under-par 69 in windy conditions for a two-stroke victory over Graham Marsh, Lee Trevino, Hale Irwin and Dana Quigley.

The 1969 Masters champion had some doubts about winning at the start of the day.

"I was sick last night, throwing up and everything," he said. "But I hit a beautiful drive on the first hole and another beautiful shot on the second. I thought, 'Hey, I might be OK.' "

Archer, who began the final round three strokes behind second-round leader Graham Marsh, took the lead with an eagle on the 538-yard, par-5 seventh hole.

He said he thought to himself, "I must be in the hunt."

In fact, he was in the lead for good.

Archer, who had a 9-under 207 total on the Hualalai course, earned $199,000 for his 19th Senior PGA Tour victory, and first since the 1998 First of America Classic. He won 12 times on the PGA Tour.

Marsh dropped four strokes on the front nine, and had to birdie the closing hole to join the group at 209. He shot a 74, while Irwin, Trevino and Quigley closed with 72s.

First-round leader John Jacobs (73) and Hubert Green (70) tied for sixth at 211, and Jim Colbert (74) and Vicente Fernandez (71) followed at 212.

Jack Nicklaus, who celebrated his 60th birthday on Friday, followed his second-round 80 with a 73 to finish 19 strokes back at 10-over 226.

The season-opening tournament was limited to players who had won on the 50-and-over tour in the last two years or won a major in the last five.

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