Fan’s ignorance not bliss for Irwin

NEWPORT BEACH ? Not everyone who attends a golf tournament knows the rules of golf etiquette. And sometimes, it can have an effect on the players.

Such was the case during Sunday’s final round of the Toshiba Classic, as Hale Irwin made his run at the title.

Irwin, who was five strokes behind going into Sunday’s action, had four birdies on the front nine to put himself within two shots of the lead. But he appeared to get a little upset on the 10th hole, when he tried to size up his birdie putt.

Irwin was set to take his shot when an oblivious spectator walked into his line of sight behind the cup. Irwin pulled back and gave the fan an icy stare.

Ignorance was bliss, though, and she continued walking, earning another cold stare and a shake of the head from the two-time Toshiba Classic champ.

When he finally took his shot, Irwin missed the five-foot putt, which only made things worse. After securing his par, he looked back at the unsuspecting spectator, who was wondering what all the hubbub was about.

Irwin didn’t get a birdie again until the 15th hole, but he followed that up by bogeying the 16th, and he wasn’t able to make up ground and tied for eighth.

QUEST FOR THE CUP

Brad Bryant’s victory was enough to vault him 11 places to second on the Champions Tour’s Charles Schwab Cup list.

Players earn points based on the prize money they win during the year’s tournaments.

Hale Irwin was the only player in the last week’s top 10 to move up, going from eighth to seventh with 248 points.

Loren Roberts remains the leader at 863 points, followed by Bryant at 376 points, Don Pooley, Tom Kite, Jerry Pate, Tom Watson, Irwin, Gil Morgan, Tom Jenkins and Morris Hatalsky.

PLACES TO GO

The players were all business during the day, but some also had extracurricular activities.

Jerry Pate, a University of Alabama alum, drove down to San Diego on Thursday to watch the Crimson Tide’s men’s basketball team play Marquette in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

Massy Kuramoto was scheduled to go to San Diego today for the finals of the World Baseball Classic. Kuramoto is friends with Japan manager Sadaharu Oh.

NO HOMETOWN DISCOUNT

Newport Beach Country Club head pro Paul Hahn finished last in the 78-player field with a 25-over-par 238. Hahn, who received a sponsor’s exemption, tied for 77th (227) last year and was 76th (223) in 2004.

SO LONG

Peter Jacobsen withdrew after Saturday’s second round after shooting 140.

Jacobsen, who has been dealing with stiffness in his right knee, was already scheduled to undergo a procedure that would inject fluid into the knee in an attempt to grow new cartilage.dpt.20-toshiba-5-dz-BPhotoInfoDN1P4B9R20060320iwepfnknDOUGLAS ZIMMERMAN / DAILY PILOT(LA)Mark Johnson watches his putt at the eighth hole. Johnson, the defending champion, tied for second at the Toshiba Classic.