Mayfair, Haas tied for Toshiba Classic lead

Billy Mayfair seemed to be excited after chipping in for an easy birdie putt on No.18 at Newport Beach Country Club, where first-round play of the Toshiba Classic took place on Friday.

Mayfair, a rookie on the Champions Tour for golfers 50 and over, had a bit of a hop to his step before tapping in a one-foot-birdie to shoot seven-under-par 64. He is tied with Jay Haas holding a one-shot lead, heading into the second of three rounds on Saturday.

Haas, who attended the Arnold Palmer memorial in Latrobe, Pa., on Tuesday, also shot seven-under. Haas, who won the Toshiba Classic in 2007, collected seven birdies, including four on the back nine, closing with a birdie on No.18 during his bogey-free round.

Mayfair had one bogey, on No.12, but eagled No.3 and birdied six holes, including four of the last five.

“It’s great to be 50,” said Mayfair, a five-time PGA Tour winner, who turned that age on Aug.6. “I was very excited [to get on the Champions Tour]. The last couple years I’ve been fully exempt on the big tour and played where I could get in and some Web.com Tour events. I know that you’ve got to be 50 and this is the time to really take advantage of this out here.”

Mayfair said he had high expectations to play on the Champions Tour. Most could see his excitement on 18, where he set himself up for the important birdie.

“I hit a real good chip [from about 17 yards out] there on 18 and hit close enough for an easy tap-in,” Mayfair said. “Overall, I played very well today. I was very happy. I hit a great shot on 15 and missed an eagle chance there, but it was a memorable day with the tribute to Arnold Palmer.”

Play paused during the first round as the golfers opened up multi-colored umbrellas to honor Palmer. And many, including Mayfair, wore an umbrella pin in honor of Palmer.

Haas said he has been inspired by Palmer and thought of the legendary golfer during his round, especially when play was halted for the tribute. Haas finished second in the Toshiba Classic in 2008, when Bernhard Langer beat him in a dramatic seven-hole playoff.

Hass said he enjoys the Newport Beach golf course, but he knows he’ll need to step it up even more to win the Toshiba for a second time.

“Keep the pedal down because nobody is going to be backing down; I know that,” the 62-year-old Haas said.

Paul Goydos, a Long Beach State product who lives in Coto de Caza, is tied with Larry Mize and Michael Allen one shot behind Mayfair and Jay Haas.

Russ Cochran is at minus-5.

John Daly, a fan favorite and also a rookie on the Champions Tour, birdied the final five holes to get to four-under and is tied with 13 others.

“This course you short-side yourself you can make some big numbers, but it’s a golf course that, like I said, if I keep hitting the driver straight, you can score,” Daly said.

“A lot of wedges into a lot of the holes. The par 3s are all around 7-, 8- and 9-irons except for 8, I hit 6-iron in there today. So it’s a golf course that if you could just hit it solid and somewhat straight, you can play well on it.”

Duffy Waldorf, the Toshiba Classic defending champion, played in Goydos’ group. Waldorf also shot four-under and is tied for seventh.

“The golf course is there to be had,” Goydos said. “But if you hit in the wrong place, you’re going to make bogeys. Today I probably should’ve made three bogeys.”

Goydos also expected Mayfair to do well on the Champions Tour.

“When Billy plays good he plays good,” Goydos said. “He’s been a good player for 30 years and there’s no reason he’ll be a good one for another 10 or 15.”

Mayfair had a few friends follow him during the first round, including Gregg Olson, a former Major League Baseball pitcher and a Newport Beach resident. Olson was with his wife, Jill. Olson said he became friends with Mayfair while in Arizona 20 years ago.