Oh, Hale Irwin putts his way out of contention PGA Click here for more on this story Posted: Sunday August 15, 1999 12:42 AM   Hale damage: Irwin drops his head after missing a birdie putt on the fourth hole. AP MEDINAH, Ill. (AP) -- Hale Irwin's fountain-of-youth run at the PGA Championship ended Saturday. Don't blame age. Fifty-four years didn't have nearly as much to do with his 6-over-par 78 as his faulty putter. "I might as well have worn my hat backwards. I couldn't tell you if I was putting with a 2-iron or a wedge or a driver or putter," a discouraged Irwin said after falling 12 shots behind co-leaders Tiger Woods and Mike Weir with a round left to play. "My feel today was just not there. You have those days, unfortunately. The last two days I didn't putt great, but I managed things well. Today the hitting was off and the putting was off and you can't do that on this course." Irwin should know something about Medinah. It holds one of his fondest memories, the place where he won the 1990 U.S. Open on the 19th playoff hole. For two days, Irwin, who has 24 senior tour wins, was showing the younger guys how to do it. He was 5 under with his steady play and just four shots back. Then came the 78. "Anytime you shoot 78 anywhere, particularly in the position I was in, you're disappointed," Irwin said. "Shooting 78 is not what we're here for." Irwin, the oldest player in the tournament, had seven bogeys, including three over the first eight holes, and never recovered. "I three-putted at the very beginning and then missed successive birdie putts and before you know, I'm struggling," he said. "I missed too many fairways and it just got worse. "A little bit of the balloon got deflated early, and I just couldn't get it back together. It simply was not a very good round of golf at all." Irwin's frustration was visible, but he was quick to point out that it was disappointment and not so much anger. "You're hopeful to play well and you don't. But composure was not the problem. It was purely hitting the ball," he said. Just before heading out to greet a long line of autograph seekers off the 18th green, Irwin turned philosophical about his return to Medinah. "I've still got one more day and that's more than some guys," he said. "It's been fun. Today was disappointing. But it's still been great. I wouldn't trade it."   Related information Stories Woods, Weir lead PGA by two strokes at 11 under Irwin at 5 under, factors in at Medinah again Player charities will receive revenue from Ryder Cup Stats Round 3 Scores Multimedia Click here for the latest audio and video Search our site Watch CNN/SI 24 hours a day Sports Illustrated and CNN have combined to form a 24 hour sports news and information channel. To receive CNN/SI at your home call your cable operator or DirecTV. Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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