Senior Classic: 'Iron Man' Quigley won't take a week off

It was suggested to Dana Quigley that, after playing in 61 consecutive Senior PGA Tour events, he take a week off to relax.

It was like suggesting to Don King that he cut his hair.

"No, I couldn't," Quigley said firmly. "Not from where I came from. The last 15 years of my life, first prize of $3,000 was a lot of money. This is my shot."

And Quigley plans to take full advantage. Since winning the Northville Long Island Classic as a Monday qualifier midway through the 1997 season and earning a one-year exemption, Quigley has played in every Senior Tour event for which he has been eligible. In event No. 62, he finished one shot behind winner Larry Nelson at the Bruno's Memorial Classic in Hoover, Ala.

He has won twice more during his streak. He finished seventh on the money list last year and is eighth far this year. He already has earned nearly $2 million in his Senior Tour career.

And to this day, he remains stunned that it all could happen to a 15-year club pro from Rehoboth, Mass., who played sporadically on the regular PGA Tour.

"Every day that I play, I'm still amazed at what happened, at my story," Quigley said. "It amazes me as much as anybody. Two years ago, if you told me my life would be where it is right now, I'd have bet everything in the world against it. I'm just the chosen one it happened to the last two years.

"I've never been high on the pedestal in my life. I was just a regular guy. I was at my club for 15 years. I played with all the members. I never looked in the mirror and thought that I was really something. That's why, to this day, I'm still amazed that all this happened. It really does shock me."

That also is why Quigley plays every week there is a Senior PGA Tour event. He knows he has a special opportunity to make a lot of money doing something he dearly loves.

"My father was very conservative," Quigley said. "He thought I was crazy to quit my job and try to make it through Monday qualifiers. I said, 'Dad, it's the only shot I'm ever going to have in my life to be a millionaire. I have to take it.' I figured this was my one chance.

"So I'm not going to take any weeks off. I'm too excited every week when I get into town. Every week to me feels like a major. I love playing golf, I love competing. It pumps me up. I play in both pro-ams. I play every day of the week. It's just what I enjoy doing."

Because he maintains such a hectic schedule, Quigley, 53, said he is amused whenever he hears golfers on the regular PGA Tour say they are tired from playing so much.

"That makes me laugh," Quigley said. "Tiger (Woods) was in the Match Play (Championships), and he was exhausted in the fourth round. You have to be kidding. The kid's 23. He should be running around that golf course.

"Even on this tour. This is such a relaxing tour to play in. I can't imagine people getting tired. We're all doing what we love to do. How can you get tired of doing what you love to do?"

Quigley insists he plans to play in every tournament as long as he is healthy and his wife, Angie, continues to want to travel with him to most of the events.

"It might be hard to do this if my wife didn't like it, but she absolutely cherishes it, too," he said.

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