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Hale Irwin Biography: Hale Irwin's fierce determination to win, a single-minded pursuit of victory, helped push him to three U.S. Open championships, the first in 1974 and the last in 1990.
Irwin's first and last U.S. Open titles each produced defining moments. The '74 Open has come to be known as "The Massacre at Winged Foot" for the incredibly tough conditions and high scores. Irwin survived, winning at 7-over-par after hitting a famous 2-iron approach to the No. 18 green.
In 1990, it was the 45-year-old Irwin's victory lap around the 18th green - a seemingly out-of-character display of emotion that included high-fiving spectators - that fans most remember. The run followed a 19-hole playoff victory over Mike Donald.
Irwin started golfing at age 4 and first broke 70 at age 14. He attended the University of Colorado, where he won the 1967 NCAA Championship. But Irwin was also a terrific football player, being named All-Big Eight as a defensive back in two seasons. He was also an Academic All-American.
Irwin turned pro in 1968 and got his first PGA Tour win in 1971. In addition to his three U.S. Open wins - he also won in 1979 - Irwin twice won the World Match Play championship. He also compiled a great 13-5-2 record in five Ryder Cup appearances.
Hale Irwin's great iron play and determined efforts helped earn him the reputation as a top player on tough courses and under tough conditions. His final PGA Tour win came in 1994 at the age of 48. Two years later, he joined the Senior PGA Tour, where he became the most dominant player in that tour's history, setting numerous records for scoring, money and victories.
Irwin won at least once in each of his first 11 years on the Champions Tour, wracking up 44 victories in that timespace - the all-time tour record (by 15 over second-place Lee Trevino). In 2005, Irwin went winless for the first time as a Champions Tour member, but he came back at age 61 to win the first event of the 2006 season.
Off the course, Irwin owns a golf course design company.
Hale Irwin was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1992.
Career highlights and biggest thrills in golf include his first TOUR win in 1971 at Hilton Head Island, SC, his three U.S. Open victories, his two U.S. Senior Open wins and playing on the victorious U.S. Ryder Cup Team in 1991 as well as being indcuted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1992. Hale has finished in the top 3 in 44% and in the top 10 in 72% of his starts on the Champion Tour.
- Major Championship titles were the 1974, 1979, and 1990 U.S. Opens
- Played on five Ryder Cup teams: 1975, 1977, 1979, 1981 and 1991
- Captain, U.S. Presidents Cup Team, 1994
- Had 20 victories on the PGA Tour beginning with the 1971 Sea Pines Heritage Classic and finishing with the 1994 MCI Heritage Golf Classic
- Won 45 Champions Tour titles and tops the all-time Champions Tour money list.
- Winner of the U.S. Senior Open in 1998 and 2000
- Won 2003 Office Depot Father/Son Challenge with son Steve Irwin
Personal Best
When asked, Hale leans toward the 2-iron he hit at the last hole to win the 1974 U.S. Open at Winged Foot as his all-time favorite shot, although most will remember him forever for his spontaneous jaunt around the 72nd green at Medinah en route to his third U.S. Open Championship. His favorite all-time athlete is Byron "Whizzer" White, a fellow CU football standout and the former Cheif Justice of the Supreme Court due to his incredible accomplishments both on and off the field.
