Two's a crowd
Associated Press
Hale Irwin brings his winning ways to the Senior PGA Tour opener.

Thanks to favorites Irwin and Morgan, the field is sparse for the Senior PGA Tour opener

By Bill Kwon
Star-Bulletin

The Hale Irwin-Gil Morgan Show, better known as the Senior PGA Tour, opens its 1998 season tomorrow with the MasterCard Championship at the Hualalai Resort golf course on the Big Island.

The 54-hole event will be held through Sunday at the par-72, 7,053-yard layout.

Irwin and Morgan finish one-two in last year's tournament, played for the first time at Hualalai, and ended one-two on the 1997 Senior PGA Tour money list.

Each earned more than Tiger Woods, who became the regular tour's first $2 million man. Irwin earned $2,343,364 and Morgan $2,160,562.

Irwin and Morgan combined to win 15 tournaments last year, with Irwin tying the Senior Tour record with his ninth victory - in the Kaanapali Classic on Maui.

With Irwin and Morgan hogging most of the victories, only 19 players qualified for this year's MasterCard Championship, its smallest field since 1990. Larry Gilbert, who would have made it 20, continues his battle with cancer and won't compete.

Others with multiple victories last year: Bob Eastwood, David Graham, Graham Marsh, Jay Sigel and Bruce Summerhays.

Rounding out the field are Isao Aoki, the 1983 Hawaiian Open champion who set a Senior PGA Tour record when he shot a 60 last year, Bud Allin, Hugh Baiocchi, Bruce Crampton, Jim Dent, Dave Eichelberger, Vicente Fernandez, Gibby Gilbert, Jack Kiefer, Bob Murphy, Dana Quigley and Dave Stockton.

Graham, Baiocchi, Summerhays, Allin and Quigley were first-time winners in 1997. Though rookie of the year, Morgan won a Senior Tour event in 1996 when he played in five events.

If Irwin and Morgan were able to dominate the regular 78-player tournament fields, imagine how they'll fare in this weekend's event, which is for 1997 winners.

Irwin shot a final-round 68 for a 54-hole 209 and a two-stroke victory over Morgan at Hualalai last year. The par-3 17th proved to be the difference as Irwin birdied and Morgan three-putted for a bogey for a two-shot swing.

The winner gets $200,000 and a big jump in the 1998 money race. Irwin would like nothing better than the same fast getaway as last year.

MasterCard Championship

When: Tomorrow through Sunday

Site: Hualalai Resort Course (Par 72, 7,053 yards)

Format: 54-hole stroke play with no cut

Field: 19 players (winners of 1997 Senior Tour events)

Purse: $1 million (first, $200,000; second, $118,000; third, $96,500).

TV: ESPN, tomorrow, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (live); Saturday, noon-2 p.m. (live); Sunday, 4-11 p.m. (tape delayed)