Faded Oak Tree memories

By John Rohde

Published: May 24, 2006

Champions golfers remember little of 1988 PGA Championship

EDMOND -- Forty two golfers in this week's Senior PGA Championship competed in the 1988 PGA Championship.

Their lives in the Champions Tour have brought bigger bank accounts and better retirement plans. A few unfortunate players have smaller bank accounts and (not coincidentally) new in-laws.

Most seniors admit their memories of Oak Tree Golf Club have either faded or disappeared.

"I will say that most of the holes on the front nine I have some vague memory of," Hale Irwin said. "There wasn't one (hole) on the back nine, other than 18, that I could remember. It just doesn't bring back a lot of memories."

Perhaps that's because Irwin tied for 38th in 1988.

"Thank you for that wonderful, fuzzy memory," Irwin said.

Forgive the 42 combatants who return, for they've only played about 400-500 events since then.

Some things haven't changed all that much around here, particularly when it comes to the local players.

Gil Morgan still gives free lessons on the driving range and remains arguably the nicest golfer on the planet.

Doug Tewell still hits nothing but fairways and patterns his life after "Let's Make a Deal."

David Edwards still might be even straighter than Tewell off the tee.

Danny Edwards still makes money in the golf business, switching from selling Royal grips to the new GreenFix device.

Mark Hayes still longs for the magic that made him one of the world's finest players in the late 1970s.

Other things have changed, such as waistlines.

"I've gained about 25 more friends for this event than I did in '88," Tewell deadpanned.