Hale Irwin, with trademark ball-striking -- plus a timely eagle -- took command of the Senior Players Championship during Saturday's third round.

Irwin, one of five players who started the day two strokes behind second-round leader Graham Marsh, birdied the first three holes and never looked back. An eagle on No. 13 sealed a round of 8-under-par 64 and a four-stroke lead over Marsh, who shot 70.

Spaniard José Maria Cañizares shot 68 for 207 to tie Larry Nelson, whose balky putter held him to 69 over the TPC of Michigan.

Still, the brilliant play crafted by the leaders was almost overshadowed by the withdrawal after nine holes of Jack Nicklaus, who designed the course.

Nicklaus, complaining of pain around the left hip he had surgically replaced in January, said he apparently tried to play too much, too soon after the operation.

"Hopefully, I'll be all right for the U.S. Senior Open (July 8-11 in Des Moines)," Nicklaus said. "I'll play it by ear.''

This was only the third time in his long and distinguished career that Nicklaus, 59, has withdrawn from a tournament. The first was the 1981 World Series, where he had to be carried from the practice area. A sore back also forced him from the 1983 Masters.

"You know, it's certainly not my choice," Nicklaus said. "I've always finished."

Senior rookie Bruce Fleisher, the circuit's leading money-winner at $1.1 million was tied at 208 with John Jacobs and Japan's Isao Aoki. Fleisher and Jacobs shot 68s, Aoki had 70.

England's Brian Barnes shot 68 for 209, matching Argentine Vicente Fernandez, who carded a 71.

Divots

• There was about a five-minute delay when Marsh played No. 13 because his ball, sitting on a rather steep slope, began to roll back down the hill, away from the hole, as he was lining up his putt. It was finally decided that Marsh had never grounded his putter and he was allowed to putt from the ball's new resting place. Oh, and he two-putted for birdie from 24 feet.
• Tom Wargo, miffed at a $500 fine for slow play in the first round, came back from a second-round 76 with 67 Saturday.
• Tom Shaw, who posted an opening-round 83, was 71-70 in the next two rounds.