Hale Irwin back in Colorado for U.S. Senior Open

Hale Irwin, The Colorado Buffaloes only NCAA golf champion, is returning to the Centennial State for this week’s U.S. Senior Open.

Ever since Jack Nicklaus won the first of his two U.S. Amateurs in 1959, The Broadmoor Golf Club (Colorado Springs, CO) has been hosting USGA Championships. The 73-year old Irwin, who also played defensive back for the Buffaloes football team while at Colorado, currently holds the record for PGA Tour Champions wins with 45, including seven Major Championships. Before joining the senior circuit, Irwin captured 20 victories on the PGA Tour and is one of only six players, including Nicklaus and Tiger Woods, to win at least three U.S. Open Championships.

The last time The Broadmoor hosted a U.S. Senior Open was 2008. One of only three players under par that year, Argentine Eduardo Romero won the title finishing six-under, four-strokes ahead of runner-up Fred Funk. Irwin finished tied-for-40^th at 13-over par.

Irwin is scheduled to tee off on The Broadmoor East Course’s 1^st hole at 1:43 p.m. MT Thursday alongside former U.S. Open champions Corey Pavin and Tom Kite.