Watson, Doyle finish tied for second
Associated Press
SAN JOSE, Calif. (March 18) -- Hale Irwin became the Senior PGA Tour's career victory leader Sunday, winning the Siebel Classic for his 30th title on the 50-and-over circuit.
Irwin, who broke a tie with Lee Trevino for the victory lead, shot a 7-under-par 65 to finish five strokes ahead of Tom Watson and Allen Doyle.
The day got off to a delayed start because of fog blanketing the Coyote Creek course but it didn't slow Irwin, who started with a one-stoke lead.
With an eagle on the par-5 fourth hole and five birdies in the round, Irwin finished with a 10-under 206 total.
Doyle, who started the day a stroke off of the lead, had two eagles and two bogeys in a back-and-forth round. In the end, however, he couldn't make up enough ground and settled for a 69 and a 211 total.
Watson opened the 54-hole event with a disappointing 77, but steadily gained ground with 67s on both Saturday and Sunday.
"As for finishing second, it's a heck of a lot better than finishing 20th," Watson said.
Jim Colbert, who won the SBC Senior Classic last weekend in Los Angeles, challenged the leaders but bogeyed two of the final four holes for a 70 and a 214 total.
Jack Nicklaus, who was one stroke back of Irwin along with five others to start the day, shot a 71 to finish at 213. He was the crowd favorite, receiving a warm ovation as he walked up the 18th fairway.
His fourth-place finish was his best on the senior tour since he tied for second in the 1997 PGA Seniors' Championship.
Fast greens and swirling canyon winds had vexed players through the first two rounds on the Nicklaus-designed course, which is bisected by Highway 101.
Irwin's 3-under total after 36 holes was the highest on the senior tour since the 1998 U.S. Senior Open.
But the gusts calmed by Sunday, and the morning fog that caused a two-hour delay to the start of the final round lifted, giving way to sunny skies with temperatures in the comfortable 70s.
Irwin earned his first victory since his daughter gave birth to his first grandchild. The three-time U.S. Open champion has played in just five tournaments this year.
Irwin cut back on his schedule this spring to spend more time in Phoenix with 5-week-old Dylan Spencer Meyer, but he plans to book more dates in the summer.
When he has the lead going into the final round, Irwin has gone on to win 19 of 25 events.
His 65 on Sunday bested J.C. Snead's 66 on Friday, the previous course best.
Trevino also entered the Siebel Classic, but withdrew midway through the first round because of back spasms.
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