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Irwin failed to add to his list of Tour wins in 1980 but the following
year he was victorious in the Hawaiian Open and Buick Open. Later that
year he scored two points from a possible four in what proved to be his
last Ryder Cup appearance for a decade. He partnered Ray Floyd to
victory over Bernard Gallacher and Eamonn Darcy in the first day
four-balls and squeezed past Jose Maria Canizares one up in the singles
as the American team cruised home by a 18 1/2-9 1/2 scoreline. Irwin won
the 1982 Honda Inverrary Classic and the 1983 Memorial Tournament
whilst in the '83 Open at Royal Birkdale (see photo above) he
produced his best ever performance in the tournament.
His eight under
par total of 276 left him level with fellow American Andy Bean in a tie
for second place just one stroke behind that prolific Open winner Tom
Watson. Hale shot rounds of 69,68 and 72 followed by a splendid closing
round of 67 to all but land the old claret jug but Watson just held on
for victory to secure his 5th Open title. Irwin won the Bing Crosby
National Pro-Am in 1984 and the Memorial Tournament the following year
but he was then to endure a barren spell for the remainder of the
decade. As he was now into his mid-forties it appeared his glory days
were behind him but the man from Missouri had other ideas. (David Scranage)
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