Irwin is oldest player in U.S. Open field

KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
OLYMPIA FIELDS, Ill. -- Hale Irwin says whenever he gets excited, his natural instinct is to break out in a run. That explains the lasting image from the previous U.S. Open that came to Chicago -- Irwin taking a high-five lap around Medinah's 18th green in 1990 after sinking a 45-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole.
Fewer will remember how much remained to follow before Irwin would become the oldest champion in U.S. Open history.
"I look back now and see how fortunate I was all along the way," Irwin said via phone recently. "I had a number of good things happen to me."
Irwin, 58, will be the oldest player in the field when the 103rd Open tees off Thursday at Olympia Fields Country Club.