Hale Irwin and Tom Watson return to Greater Hickory Classic on Champions Tour
Greater Hickory Classic on the Champions Tour swung back in action at the Rock Barn Golf and Spa at Conover, North Carolina on Friday, June10. The veterans of the tour have returned to fight for the lucrative $1.75 million title with a winner’s share of
$262,500.
The players tee-ed off at 8.45 local time and James Mason was leading the field with two consecutive birdies on his front nine. Roger Chapman of England was also one of the fast approaching contenders with his two-under up to the fourth hole.
Two more Americans Tommy Armour III and Olin Browne were further down the leaderboard with their one-under each. Rest of the field has yet to tee off for their first round.
Sport's most celebrated players have come down to test the other contenders and bag another title on the Champions Tour. Hale Irwin, winner of the US Open for a staggering three times, will be the most sought after player for the media and spectators at
the par-72, 7,046 yards Rock Barn Golf and Spa. Irwin switched over to Champions Tour in 1995 and won a senior major five times in his career.
"I still have a desire to compete," Irwin said. "Maybe the realization is hitting me that I used to be able to command my body to do what I wanted it do and now I give it that command and it hesitates or it gives me feedback, 'No, I don't want to do that,
I don't want to go there."
Tom Watson, who recently won the Senior PGA Championship when he took over David Eger, also lauded Irwin’s persistence to forge on and remain on the course despite being 61 years old.
Watson said at Valhalla, "And I always take the opportunity to watch Hale practice because I love his golf swing. I like his motion. He just has a great golf swing and, of course, his competitive spirit is second to very few people."
The tournament will proceed to the second and third rounds on the weekends, with the final being played on Sunday.
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