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Show Wednesday. mum ft mi DES MOINES, Iowa For Hale Irwin, it's not tEe shoes. It's the ball. () kIrwin has been a par-bustin- g terror since switching back to fhe kind of golf ball he used tttfiile dominating the Senior fGA Tour in 1998. ' After making the change in $lay, Irwin won three of the five jSnior tournaments he entered nd scored par or better in 16 of f 7 rounds. He shot in the 60s in J 2 of those rounds. Jrwin will try to keep it going V$en he begins defense of his t9e in the U.S. Senior Open on I 3irsday. '""I have played extremely well, there's no doubt about that," Irwin said. "I think it's in large part due to sort of a recommitment, of focus if you wish, to get myself more back in the frame of mind and the playing mode which I found myself in at this time last year." Irwin also traces his improved play to his decision to go back to e the ball instead of the newer edition he had been using earlier in the year. After winning seven tournaments and nearly $2.9 million last year, Irwin got off to a miserable start this year. He placed in the top 10 in only one of his old-styl- IW, CUP 1 III III K l uh I'jsh' H ''"l ' 4s I). IVno. t Continued from Bl After the team's first practice in preparation for the final, the DDD0)I7 tWEST July 7. players were interviewed by reporters from television networks and national news magazines. "CBS Evening News" was first seven tournaments, with a best finish of fourth in the GTE Classic. Then, using the other ball, he suddenly became the Irwin of old. He won the Nationwide Championship, finished sixth in the Las Vegas Classic and won-thBoone Valley Classic. After tying for 26th in the BellSouth Classic, Irwin bounced back to win the Senior Players Championship by seven strokes. "I went back to the old o e Professional rather than the new Professional," Irwin said. "It's a ball I know, a ball I had great success with. The real challenge is to find some because they don't make them anymore. It's just sort of what I've hoarded and what we can find." While Irwin is going strong, Jack Nicklaus is still struggling with his sore left hip and withdrew from the tournament. Nicklaus, 59, a two-tim- e Senior Open champion, had his left hip replaced Jan. 27. He returned to play in the Bell Atlantic Classic four months later but has not played competitively since pain in the hip forced him to withdraw after 45 holes of the Senior Players Championship two weeks ago. "My hip is starting to feel RODNEY W HITE The Associated Press He got all of that one: Utah's Bruce Summerhays, left, watches his drive while defending U.S. Senior Open champion Hale Irwin tees up during a practice round at the Des Moines Golf and Country Club on Tuesday. good," Nicklaus said. "But I think it would be wise on my part to wait a week or so to test it again. I'm very eager to play golf, but I just don't think I should right now." Irwin said the difference in the two balls he has been using are minimal. He just feels more comfortable with the old one. "The old Professional was a ball which I knew how far I was going to hit it each time under what conditions," Irwin said. "It was a very predictable ball that fit my game nicely. "The new Professional is a very good ball, too, but it goes a little bit farther. It has different characteristics and flight affected my game more than it might affect some other play- - er's game. I was hitting it a little too far with some clubs and I couldn't find the right pattern. When I went back to this other one, it was just like it fell into place." Irwin's recent surge has carried into fourth place on the list, behind Bruce money Fleisher, Allen Doyle and Larry Nelson. All three also will compete in the Open. Vicente Fernandez, who finished one stroke behind Irwin in last year's Open, said he's not surprised by Irwin's turnaround. "Every time they ask me about Hale being a little bit slow starting this year, I always said ... he was taking a rest," Fernandez said. "I think he is ready again." on hand. So was Newsweek. What they found is what those following the team for the last month have long known: This is a refreshing group of athletes who understand exactly what is happening. And cherish it. "We've been excited by the tournament and overwhelmed by the response," Chastain said. "I knew there was a special package we had to offer and now we are getting a chance to present it." What makes it extra special is that the women are doing it on their own. While they were one of the more popular teams at the 1996 Olympics, they shared the spotlight with the U.S. basketball, softball and gymnastics teams that won gold medals. This time, the Americans and Chinese and Brazilians are selland selling out ing soccer major league stadiums. 'This event has done better than anyone could have expected," Milbrett said. "I'm shocked at how massive it has been. "We knew it would be huge and we felt it would be OK if we have maybe 40,000 fans at the games. But we never thought of anything like sellouts at every game." Milbrett said that is a trib- - rin i o inrums sm iw When do I get my commercial? U.S. women's soccer coach Tony DiCicco watches over his team's practice in preparation for the World Cup Finals on Saturday. uii-i- i ute to the sport, whereas the Atlanta Games were about something else. "The Olympics is about the patriotic USA." she said. "It's people going to games because it's the Olympics. If we have success, they will also come; think that showed in the numbers, when we had 2."), 000 for an early Olympic game and then sold out the final. But it was not just a soccer crowd. "But 79.000 at the opener says 1 they knew about our soccer and they wanted to come and watch soccer, watch women's soccer." It doesn't hurt, either, that the teams generally have given the U.S. public what it craves: wide-opeplay, lots of scoring, n spectacular goalkeeping and passion. 1999 golf campaign makes the turn " By DOUG FERGUSON The Associated Press !A n ''.'David Duval already has $3 million in the bank and a 59 in tlie record books. Jose Maria Olazabal put his a'est foot forward at Augusta National and his right fist through a hotel wall at Pjnehurst. Payne Stewart debunked the myth about Olympic Club being a "graveyard of champions" by winning perhaps the most dramatic ,1 U.S. Open. Just think, the year is only ljlf over. With the British Open, PGA Championship and Ryder Cup still on the horizon, t)iis already is shaping up as qfije of the most fascinating years in golf. n jvBy way of review, the mid-spaso- awards, highlights and lowlights: nearly lapped the field in the winners-onlMercedes (anyone remember who finished second?), shot 59 to win in Palm Springs and won The Players Championship by making a birdie on the island green at No. 17. LPGA Tour player of the year: Karrie Webb set a modern record with 16 consecutive top 10s, five of those victories. But the vote goes to Inkster, whose four victories include two majors. She also makes great French toast. Rookie of the year: A hint he speaks Spanish. Unless Sergio Garcia wins the British in the Open and goes Ryder Cup, the sentimental favorite is Carlos Franco. He learned to play barefooted in Paraguay, got through using his driver as a putter and won the Compaq Classic y rock-har- d 5-- 0 in New Orleans. Plus, he refuses to hire an agent. Shot of the year: Davis Love III, whose chip on the 16th at Augusta made a up the slope and rolled back 20 feet into the cup. Best moment: Stewart's par putt on the 18th hole at Pinehurst No. 2 to win the U.S. Open. No champion in r its history had ever made a putt that long on the 72nd hole to win by one stroke. 15-fo- 105-yea- Best consolation prize: Amanda Brynn Mickelson. Best comeback: Jack Nicklaus, competing 17 weeks after hip replacement surgery. Worst comeback: Nick Faldo, assuming he's not playing this poorly on purpose. Best gesture: Olazabal, waiting for Norman to walk up to the 18th green in the Masters. Worst gesture: Woods having the gallery move a boulder during the final round of the Phoenix Open. To his credit, Woods knew the rules allowed fans to help move the "loose impediment." It might not have caused such an uproar had Woods helped them. Classiest gesture: Sergio Garcia, removing his cap to shake hands with Byron Nelson and kneeling so Nelson would not have to look up at him as they chatted. Best career move: Jerry Higginbotham, getting fired by Mark O'Meara and picked up by Garcia. Worst career move: Fluff Cowan stopping to sign autographs. Toughest $1 million: Jeff Maggert went 127 holes over five days and won the Match Play Championship with a yPGA Tour player of the year: Duval. More than four victories and $3 million in earnings is the manner in which he gets it done. Duval chip-i- n for birdie on the 38th hole. Easiest $1 million: Woods' appearance money to play in Germany. Best eagle: Duval's putt for a 59 the most pres- sure he has felt all year. Best birdie: Olazabal' s putt on No. 13 at Augusta for a share of the lead, with the roar of Norman's eagle still ringing in his ears. Best par: Inkster's bunker shot on No. 7 in the final round of the U.S. Women's Open. The ball plugged into a crater, and she blasted out to a foot. It may have been tougher than the lie Brian Watts had on the 18th hole at Royal Birkdale last year. Best bogey: Norman, after losing a ball in the azaleas behind the 12th green at Augusta, hit another tee shot 20-fo- DAVID J. IMIII I IP The AsMKiali-- I'n-s- He's the tops: David Duval, seen here driving the second hole at the U.S. Open, is one reason why 1999 is one of the most fascinating seasons of golf in years. to 25 feet and made the putt. Best other: John Daly. Take your pick either the 1 1 he chalked up at Pinehurst by whacking the ball as it was rolling off the green, of his from 8 feet on the 18th in the Memorial for a 10. six-pu- ADVERTISEMENT 149 VEHICLES FROM $99.00 Offered for Immediate Disposal ;23 H,v; Save up to $125.00 Glass Acl will waive up to $125 .00 of your Insurance Deductible. Free Mobile Service & Free Stale Safety Inspection. 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