Toshiba Classic pro golf tournament returns to Newport after a year off
Jay Haas became the second-oldest tournament winner in PGA Champions Tour history in October 2016, when at 62 he won his second Toshiba Classic golf tournament.
Back then, the tournament was in its second year of being played in the fall. There was no event in 2017, as a schedule change meant it would be moved back to its traditional time earlier in the tournament year.
At 64, Haas now will be the oldest defending champion in tour history when the three-day tournament begins Friday at Newport Beach Country Club.
Tournament Executive Director Jeff Purser said he’s happy to have the tournament — which has a total purse of $1.8 million and a first-place prize of $270,000 — back in March. A $50-million renovation at Newport Beach Country Club was completed last summer.
“It’s good to be getting back to our place in the sports landscape and event landscape in Orange County,” Purser said. “When we made the move to the fall, a lot of it was to accommodate Toshiba, and they’ve gone through some changes, so it’s not as necessary. A lot of things have changed in that time frame, including the tour’s landscape and what their schedules are. It’s good for us to get home to where we kind of feel like we’re the lead event, at least at this time of the year. We’re excited about it.”
Haas, who also won the tournament in 2007 and has 18 victories on the Champions Tour, is one of two multiple Toshiba Classic winners in the field. The other is fan favorite Fred Couples, who counts the 2010 and 2014 Toshiba titles among his 13 Champions Tour wins.
Purser said he’s also excited to have two longtime standouts from Spain, Jose Maria Olazabal and Miguel Angel Jimenez, competing in their first Toshiba Classic.
Tom Watson, an eight-time major champion, is returning to the fold.
“Tom missed us in the fall,” Purser said. “He’s got a busy fall schedule, so to have him back, it’s always a privilege and an honor.”
Tournament week started with the Breakfast with a Champion event Tuesday at the Balboa Bay Resort, with 21-time PGA Tour winner Lanny Wadkins as the guest of honor.
That will be followed by the classic pro-am Wednesday and Thursday at Newport Beach Country Club.
Gates open at 8 a.m. Friday for the first day of the professional tournament, with tee times from approximately 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Saturday will be Military Appreciation Day, when past and current members of the military will get in free with up to three guests, as well as receive complimentary food and beverage vouchers.
The tournament’s final day, Sunday, is Student Day, with free admission offered to students 18 and younger.
One Champions Tour golfer happy to be playing close to home is Paul Goydos of Long Beach. He will be competing in his third Toshiba Classic. He finished fourth in 2015.
“It’s nice to sleep in your own bed,” said Goydos, 53, who has five career victories on the Champions Tour. “And the golf tournament, they do a great job there. There’s some of the biggest crowds on the Champions Tour there. It has a good vibe. Newport Beach is a great city and it’s just a really nice event.”
Goydos said the course plays fairly neutral, giving everyone a shot at the title.
“You’ve got to play pretty good golf all three days to have a chance,” he said.
Twitter: @mjszabo
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