DEARBORN, Mich. - Hale Irwin is clearly the man to beat in the Senior Players Championship.
Irwin won the U.S. Senior Open two weeks ago. He leads the senior money list by $10,474 over Bruce Fleisher. And the three-time U.S. Open winner is the defending champion in this, the fourth and final major on the senior circuit.
''I've worn the bull's-eye on my back before, and I'm happy to wear it,'' Irwin said Wednesday after tuning up with a 1-under-par 71 in the pro-am. ''It all comes down to experience.''
The deciding factor might be how well the field plays the wind and water at the TPC of Michigan, a 6,966-yard layout designed by Jack Nicklaus.
''You have to be hitting the ball well on this golf course,'' Larry Nelson said. ''I think that's why Hale just sort of blew out the field last year.''
Irwin finished at 21-under 267 last year, beating Graham Marsh by seven strokes. If he repeats, he will pocket $315,000 of the $2.1 million in prize money from Ford Motor Co.
''I don't deny that I played extremely well last year,'' Irwin said. ''When I needed a shot, I made it and converted it.''
But the greens were softened by rain in 1999. This year, the greens are much more firm.
''It's playing a little fast than I recall it,'' Irwin said. ''I don't think the scores will be as low as last year.''
Irwin, who took last week off, said he might need a day or two to get his stroke back.
''Even as good as Hale has played the last four or five years, he hasn't won every week,'' Nelson said. ''It just seems like he has sometimes.''
As with most courses designed by Nicklaus, there is some wiggle room off the tees at the TPC of Michigan. The money shot is frequently the second stroke, an iron into hard, fast greens that sometimes have three or four levels.
''How do they shoot that far under par?'' Tom Watson wondered after carding a 75 during his first round on the course. ''I know Hale won by seven or eight shots, but how did he shoot that far under? This golf course isn't that easy.''
Nelson, despite some driving and putting woes, can't be overlooked in this championship. He has won twice this season and played well enough to rank third on the money list.
''I've got three drivers and two putters in my bag right now,'' Nelson said.
A win this weekend would be Irwin's fourth this season and give him half of a grand slam in events considered majors by the seniors. Tom Kite won the Tradition and Doug Tewell the PGA Seniors' Championship. Kite and Tewell are both rookies among the seniors.
''My form is really good right now,'' Kite said. ''But, Jack Nicklaus does not design easy golf courses.''
Fleisher, who had just one victory in more than 400 events on the regular PGA Tour, has flourished on the senior tour. He has won 10 times in the last 18 months.
Fleisher has never won a major, although he finished second to Irwin in the U.S. Senior Open.
''I'll learn from that,'' said Fleisher, whose 69.19 leads the tour in scoring average. ''If I get back in that position, maybe I can come out on top.''
