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Sizzle turns to fizzle in finale

Expectations were high for a duel between third-round leader Hale Irwin and Jack Nicklaus. Both players collapsed.

By RODNEY PAGE

© St. Petersburg Times, published February 19, 2001

LUTZ -- They were the biggest names on a leaderboard full of recognizable ones. Sunday's final round of the Verizon Classic at TPC of Tampa Bay figured to be a shootout between Hale Irwin and Jack Nicklaus, two of the most accomplished players on the PGA and Senior PGA tours.

Irwin led by two shots at 6 under par to start the day. Nicklaus lurked two shots back. Eighteen holes later, both had shot over par and fallen out of contention while lesser-known players Bob Gilder, Doug Johnson, Bobby Walzel and Tom Jenkins made moves.

Go figure.

Nicklaus failed to make a birdie and shot 4-over 75 to finish even par and tied for 20th. Irwin had three birdies but six bogeys and finished 3-over 74 and tied for ninth.

"On the first day I hit 10 greens. On the second day I hit 12. And today I hit 14 and shot 75. What does that tell you?" Nicklaus said. "It was obvious what was wrong with my game. It was my putting. It was horrible today. The greens were perfect, just the way I like them. It was just one of those days."

This was Nicklaus' first senior tour tournament this season. It also was the first time he had been in contention for a championship since finishing tied for sixth at the 1998 Masters.

The last time Nicklaus won a senior tour event was the 1996 Tradition. The last time he won a PGA Tour event was the 1986 Masters.

Nicklaus, 61, said he was physically fit after hip surgery last year. He was at a loss to explain why he was not competitive Sunday.

"I don't know why it happened," Nicklaus said. "It's not like I have a nerve problem. I was relaxed over the putts. I guess I just need a few more years experience.

"I played so badly. I missed an 11- or 12-footer at (No. 1), same length at two, little bit farther at three. I just couldn't get anything going. I think the round ceased being fun around midway through the back nine when I knew I couldn't win the tournament. But I never write off a day. I'll fight until the last dog hunts."

Nicklaus said he plans to play a few more PGA and Senior PGA tour events before April's Masters, which he is leaning toward playing although he has not committed.

Irwin almost didn't show for the tournament. His daughter Becky gave birth to his first grandchild Monday, and he did not arrive until Thursday.

Even after his second-round 5-under 66 gave him the lead, Irwin said he was not happy with his game. He was not happy Sunday, either.

"I'm just not really on," he said. "I kind of had the emotion that I'm just happy to be playing. Under these conditions, with the course setup and the wind, I wasn't prepared."

Irwin's only move on the leaderboard was down. He bogeyed the second, fourth and eighth holes, and shot 1-over 36 on the front nine. The back nine wasn't any better, with three bogeys and a birdie, on 16, for 2-over 38.

Like Nicklaus, Irwin blamed his putter.

"My putting was terrible," he said. "I missed really one drive all day, and it had to be (18). I got off to a bad start and never got it back."

Irwin, 55, said he plans to take a week off and play in three West Coast senior tour events in late February and early March. He hopes his game will be in better shape by then.

"I'm just rusty still," Irwin said. "I need some Rust-Oleum."

Verizon Classic

WINNER: Bob Gilder 70-68-67-205

Others: Ray Floyd 68-73-67-208

Bruce Fleisher 69-69-70-208

Gil Morgan 71-67-70-208

Hale Irwin 70-66-74-210

Tom Watson 73-70-69-212

Jack Nicklaus 67-71-75-213

Gary Player 72-70-73-215

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