Jacobsen wins Senior US Open at first major attemp

BY Bruce Young | Champions Tour | 2004 US Senior Open | Wrap | 02 Aug 2004

In just his third event on the Champions Tour and his first major, Peter Jacobsen has today won the prestigious US Senior Open after holding off a late charge from Hale Irwin to win by just one shot at the Bellerive Country Club in St Louis.

Jacobsen, who was able to win on the PGA Tour as late as last year, turned fifty in March and has not played of late due to hip surgery in April. He returned to competitive golf earlier this month at the Long Island Classic, but for him to have held up for so long, with so little competitive play of late, really is worth marvelling at.

A seven time winner on the PGA Tour and in several events internationally, Jacobsen has the perfect demeanour and attitude for Champions Tour golf and wins aside, he will develop a great following on that tour. He is a personality and a good player and that combination has a future on the tour. The US Senior Open is head and shoulders above the rest as far as events for the over fifty and to win this event will go some way towards making up for several near misses he had in majors on the PGA Tour.

Jacobsen put his stamp on the event early when he produced an opening round of 65 to lead by one from Craig Stadler. He was still in the lead as the tournament eventually concluded round two on Saturday, but Stadler had joined him. Jacobsen with the hip surgery not all that far behind him, had to endure 36 holes on the final day and did it in style. He had Tom Kite go past him on Sunday morning but when the third round started in the afternoon, he opened with two birdies and he quickly had the measure of Kite. It would be the veteran and Senior Golf’s most prolific winner, Hale Irwin, who would present the most danger as the tournament neared its conclusion.

Irwin’s run was halted briefly with a double bogey at the 6th but when he turned for home Irwin put his head back and stormed over the closing nine in 32 to all but catch Jacobsen.

So the victory was Jacobsen’s and with it his future on the Champions Tour is now assured in the medium term. Another tour newcomer and first time US Open competitor, Jay Haas was third, a place he shared with Tom Kite whose last round of 72 saw him miss his chance.

Graham Marsh was 25th, with Malaysian-based Australian Stewart Ginn 60th.