Irwin looking for back to back senior majors

Just two weeks after a record-setting performance at the U.S. Senior Open, Hale Irwin goes for his second straight major when he defends his title at the Senior Players Championship, beginning Thursday.

Irwin defeated reigning Senior Tour Player of the Year Bruce Fleisher by three strokes two weeks ago to claim his sixth Senior Tour major championship. With a 17-under-par 267, Irwin recorded the lowest score in relation to par at any USGA event and set five other scoring records.

Also, Irwin joined the legendary Jack Nicklaus as the only multiple winners of both the U.S. Open and U.S. Senior Open.

A year ago, Irwin overcame a left rotator cuff injury to win his first Senior Players Championship by a whopping seven strokes over Graham Marsh, a record margin of victory at this event. He also finished runner-up here in 1996 and 1998.

In addition to his two U.S. Senior Open titles, Irwin won three straight PGA Seniors' Championships from 1996-98 to account for his six majors. A 20-time winner on the PGA Tour, the 55-year-old Irwin could tie Lee Trevino's all-time record of Senior Tour wins with 29.

Fleisher followed up his seven-win rookie season with three victories in 2000. He has 11 top-10 finishes overall in 18 starts and trails Irwin by just under $11,000 in season earnings. Fleisher tied for seventh here a year ago.

Tom Kite, who won The Tradition in April, and Doug Tewell, the winner of the PGA Seniors' Championship, also will vie for their second major of the season. Tom Watson will look to join Kite as winners of majors in their rookie season.

Former champions entered include Nicklaus (1990). Gil Morgan (1998), two-time winner Dave Stockton (1992, 1994), Jim Colbert (1993), J.C. Snead (1995) and Ray Floyd (1996).

Leonard Thompson, who won this past week's State Farm Senior Classic in a playoff, also is entered.

The Tournament Players Club of Michigan is a par-72 layout spanning 6,966 yards. First prize at the $2.3 million event is $345,000.

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