Sure Steve Stricker was spectacular last week, shattering the scoring record to win the 40th U.S. Senior Open by six shots.

But, hey, he also won his first major earlier this year by six shots.

And how about 69-year-old Tom Watson shooting his age — or better — three times? It’s getting old, even if he apparently is not.

The compelling story here was that two guys from Hilo played in the planet’s most iconic golf championship for “older” guys.

“Wow, are we lucky,” says Greg Meyer, who was back home in Japan Sunday night after he and Hilo golfing buddy Kevin Hayashi missed the cut. “At this stage in our life to be playing on this grandest stage is truly a blessing. Two local boys from rainy old Hilo town up there in South Bend, Ind., near the campus of Notre Dame University, playing with the big boys. The odds aren’t great but here we are.”

Their paths since growing up in “rainy old Hilo” have been dramatically different, but somehow they keep finding each other. Their most memorable reunion might have been in 2011 when they became the 64th and 65th members of the Hawaii Golf Hall of Fame.

Their resumes just seem to improve as they close on 60.

Last year Hayashi — who has won nearly every major Hawaii tournament multiple times and played in 11 Sony/Hawaiian Opens — was named the Aloha Section PGA’s Player AND Senior Player of the Year.

“I didn’t know that Kevin was both player of the year and senior player of the year,” said Meyer, who lives in Japan with wife Akiko and two daughters. “That’s amazing. He ranks right up there with Steve Stricker and Tom Watson.”

Hayashi’s personal highlights include winning the Hawaii Pearl Open — with a hole-in-one that got him a car — and JAL Rainbow Open and capturing three consecutive Hawaii State Open titles (1999-2001).

Meyer started with the 1978 state high school championship and was the Aloha Section’s 1999 Player of the Year. He won four Hawaii Pearl Opens and has played in one fewer Sony/Hawaiian Open than his friend.

He has focused on the Japan Golf Tour and its senior circuit, collecting more than $2 million on the regular tour and snagging three senior titles. Meyer, who tied for 44th in last month’s PGA Senior Championship, got into this year’s Senior Open because he was No. 3 on the money list in Japan. Hayashi earned Hawaii’s qualifying spot, after being one of 2,796 entries, and played in his third Open.

It was immensely memorable, even if they had to watch Stricker’s spectacular show from a distance Sunday.

Meyer called it “an incredible experience” from the Lexus courtesy car to the autographs to the post-round “wellness facility” and final putt. “You truly felt idolized,” he said after shooting 70-73 to miss the cut by two.

Hayashi fired 73-71 and, with everyone else, was amazed Stricker could go so low. Three of the players he likes watching most were there — Watson, Vijay Singh and Kenny Perry — but Hayashi admits “it would’ve been my dream to play in the Open with David Ishii and Greg Meyer.”

Former Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz sent the players a letter for being “one of the select few.” Fighting Irish alumni — and NFL Hall of Famers — Jerome Bettis and Tim Brown chaired the Open. There was a visit to Notre Dame’s football stadium that included a walk on the field and one precious pass.

After the first round, Meyer and Hayashi had lunch together … next to Jack and Barbara Nicklaus, Watson and Ben Crenshaw.

“It’s not very often we get the opportunity to participate in a major tournament so I will cherish this for the rest of my life,” Meyer said. “To be able to play alongside the best in the world and see where you stack up is not something that happens every day.

“And what I found was that I am able to compete with these guys and still have some great golf in me. In my younger days I may not have been so patient, and mature. I think that’s what allows me to continue to be successful.”

And, like Hayashi, he still loves the game. “I guess I treasure it a little more now that I’m older and my competitive days are getting shorter,” Hayashi says.

At the Senior Open, Meyer also found himself treasuring the home he rarely sees. In Japan, he is now celebrating July 4th.

“Even though I didn’t finish as high as I would have liked, the experience itself has been priceless — on and off the golf course,” Meyer said. “I’ve still got some competitive years in me and my view of the U.S. has been swayed. Being mostly in Japan the past almost 30 years I don’t get to see much of the United States and its people except from the news on TV and internet. What a great country with great people. Just the scale of everything made me realize what a great country we have. Really an eye opener as I haven’t traveled much to the states since my college days.”