Vietnam veteran Morgan unwavering

The moment Hale Irwin stepped down from the interview podium in the

Toshiba Senior Classic media tent at Newport Beach Country Club, the

first thing PGA Champions Tour media official Dave Senko and Irwin

talked about was the latest news on the war in Iraq.

Sports and entertainment no doubt give folks an outlet in life

during a crisis, but there’s no denying the obvious in many hearts on

the Newport Beach grounds Saturday. There’s a war going on and it’s

nearly impossible not to think about it or pay attention to the

updates in the Middle East.

Irwin isn’t so concerned about catching four players in front of

him, including second-round leader Rodger Davis of Australia, and

rallying today from a four-stroke deficit to win his second straight

Toshiba Senior Classic [and third overall]. He’s more worried about

how many more U.S. Marines are going to give their lives for our

freedom.

This year’s Toshiba Classic -- no matter who wins today or how

much money is generated to its lead charity, Hoag Hospital -- will

always be associated with the war in local golf lore.

Several members of the Champions Tour are U.S. military veterans

and most of their thoughts it seems, like many of us, are on the war.

Some, like career military man Walter Morgan, who served two tours

of duty in Vietnam, are adamant about of liberating Iraq and removing

Saddam Hussein from power.

“I just think we’re doing what we’ve got to do,” said Morgan, who

saw bloodshed in Vietnam he would prefer not to describe. “That man

(Hussein) has got to go. He’s killing and starving his own people.

He’s just got to go. And those protesters have got to go, too. They

should take them and send them over there. It’s no cakewalk over

there. You never know when something’s going to land on your head or

if you’ll step on something. In Vietnam there was the juggle and the

enemy hid. Over there, it’s wide open. Those foot soldiers have the

toughest part. I just hope we find out if (Hussein) has been hit or

what ... I hope it’s over quick and we take care of those people.”

In the second round Saturday, Morgan shot 1-under 70 with three

birdies and a double bogey on the par-5 No. 15, normally a birdie

hole for the players. Morgan made a 35-foot putt to birdie No. 9. He

also birdied 3 and 18.

*

Andy Bean, making his Champions Tour debut at the Toshiba Senior

Classic, joined Chi Chi Rodriguez and Fuzzy Zoeller on stage for the

interactive player Q&A; session with fans following the second round

of play.

“I saw Jack Nicklaus the other day at the airport,” Rodriguez told

the crowd. “I said, ‘Hi, Jack.’ And (airport security officials) put

handcuffs on me. So when you see Jack Nicklaus, say ‘Hi, Mr.

Nicklaus’ not ‘Hi Jack.’”

*

Saturday’s crowd surprisingly wasn’t as large as expected and

certainly wasn’t bigger than previous years in the second round.

As the leaders made the turn Saturday, the gallery was small.

Granted, Jim Ahern, Rodger Davis and Lanny Wadkins might not create a

lot of walk-up ticket sales, but for the final group at the peak of

the day under ideal conditions, you’d think more people would be in

attendance. No crowd estimates were released by tournament officials.

*

Even though four players are ahead of him after two rounds, Irwin

was the player asked to appear in the media tent [along with

tournament leader Davis].

That’s because of Irwin’s well-deserved reputation. In addition to

winning last year’s Toshiba Classic, a victory that kick-started

Irwin’s season on his way to another money title, Irwin won the 1998

Toshiba Classic after starting the final round trailing by five

strokes. But he shot a course-record 62 and leapfrogged past 11

players.

“With the good start I had (Saturday), really I was looking at a

62 or 63 round with the par-5s staring at me,” said Irwin, who

birdied four of the first five holes. “To make only one birdie (at

No. 14) the rest of the day is ridiculous.”

Irwin had birdie opportunities at 15 and 16, but burned the edge

of the cup on an 8-foot attempt on 15 and missed a 7-foot birdie putt

attempt on 16, when the ball stopped an inch from the hole.

“In some cases, I think these greens are a little slower than last

year,” Irwin said. “I think there’s more grass on the greens. I’m not

saying they’re bad greens, it’s just the nature of poa annua. Late in

the day it’s not going to hold a lot of lines. That’s why you need

patience.”