Funk provides another big moment for senior golf

[August 03, 2009]  CARMEL, Ind. (AP) -- Fred Funk's eye-popping performance at the U.S. Senior Open has provided the latest boost of energy for senior golf.

Less than a month after Tom Watson's second-place finish at the British Open got golf fans buzzing, Funk set a tournament record by finishing 20-under par to win by six strokes Sunday. He shot a 7-under 65 on the final day at Crooked Stick to beat Hale Irwin's previous record set in 2000 by three strokes.

"Any time any of the guys go out there and have a great week, it shows how great the game is because you don't have to be 30 years old to compete," Funk said.

Coming off a playoff loss to Loren Roberts last week in the Senior British Open, the 53-year-old Funk broke the event mark of 17-under set by Hale Irwin in 2000 at Saucon Valley.

Records fell early and often at Crooked Stick, a respected course designed by Pete Dye. Greg Norman, Joey Sindelar, Dan Forsman and amateur Tim Jackson all tied for the course record Thursday with 66s.

That record was bettered Saturday when Russ Cochran had a 64. Roberts then tied Cochran's mark on Sunday.

The seniors posted better numbers than those from the PGA Championship that was played at the course in 1991. John Daly won that tournament with a score of 12-under.

"These guys can still play," Norman said. "The golf course is very similar to what we played in 1991, and you know, we are still hitting in the same places, hitting the same irons into the greens. So, goes to show, these guys are still very, very good."

Funk, an eight-time winner on the PGA Tour, won his second senior major, following the 2008 Jeld-Wen Tradition. He has five Champions Tour victories.

Funk was 13 under the first three days to take the lead. He birdied Nos. 2, 5 and 9 on Sunday for a 33 on the front nine and was on his way to routing the field.

Sindelar (70) finished second at 14 under, Cochran (68) was 12 under, and Roberts (64) and Norman (73) followed at 11 under.

Funk knew Roberts was playing well.

"I did notice Loren Roberts taking off from way back and wondering what the heck he was doing and playing," Funk said. "It was pretty interesting watching him climb the leaderboard like that, and it was putting a little scare in me."

After Roberts finished, Funk stopped watching the scoreboard until he reached 17.

Watson shot even on Sunday to finish 2 over, tied for 43rd.

Last year's U.S. Senior Open winner, Eduardo Romero, shot an even-par 72 on Sunday to tie for 19th at 3 under.

Jackson, who led after the first two days, shot a 4-over 76 on Sunday to tie for 11th. His 72-hole score of 282 was the lowest by an amateur in U.S. Senior Open history, shattering the record of 288 set by Greg Reynolds and George Zahringer in 2005. Jackson also shot the lowest round for an amateur in a U.S. Senior Open, a 66 on Thursday.

Jackson's score of 133 over the first two days matched the event's best 36-hole mark.

"This was a great experience and a great week," the 50-year-old said. "Even as old as I am, I learned a lot."

Performances like Jackson's inspire Funk.

"It shows that the game is kind of an ageless game," Funk said. "You can still play at a super high level as long as you're healthy and prepared."

[Associated Press; By CLIFF BRUNT]

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