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 Former Mission Viejo resident Mark O'Meara finished second four times on the Champions Tour in 2009 (PHOTO: Mark Susson). Considering the significant amount of Southern Californians that tee it up annually in the Champions Tour’s Toshiba Classic, it’s a bit surprising there have been only two Southern Californian winners in the 15-year history of the event — San Gabriel native and CBS Sports commentator Gary McCord picked up his first senior victory in 1999 and little-known Helendale resident Mark “Beer Man” Johnson stunned galleries with his dramatic 2005 win. That number could easily swell to three in 2010, as plenty of talented players with local ties are in this week’s field. Here are five to keep an eye on. Mark O’Meara. It’s not uncommon for former PGA Tour stalwarts to find new competitive life upon joining the senior circuit at age 50. O’Meara, a 16-time PGA Tour winner, has yet to break through on the Champions Tour, a fact not lost on the former Mission Viejo resident. However, his 2009 did include four runner-up finishes, the first of which came at Newport Beach Country Club in the Toshiba. “Even though I didn’t win, I didn’t think it was a poor year,” O’Meara said during Toshiba Classic media day last month. “I had some opportunities, knocked on the door a few times and, unfortunately, it didn’t open. But that just gives me more fuel for the fire.” O’Meara said he spent the off-season working with Rick Davidson at River Oaks Country Club in Houston, Tex., and made enough strides with his swing to feel confident this season. So far in 2010, O’Meara has finished tied for 11th and 20th in two senior events and missed the cut at the PGA Tour’s Pebble Beach National Pro-Am — although he did shoot rounds of 71-69 after opening with a horrid 77. Fred Couples. The La Quinta resident has never played in the Toshiba Classic, but he still has to be considered the favorite for the title. The 50-year-old has the length to reach every par 5 at Newport Beach and attack almost all of the par 4s with short irons or wedges. Not only has Couples shone on the Champions Tour in ’10 with a win and second-place finish in his first two career events, he’s coming off a solid tie for 14th in last week’s Waste Management Phoenix Open. John Cook. The former Rancho Palos Verdes resident and part-time Corona del Mar resident shook off lackluster efforts in his first two senior events of 2010 (ties for 22nd and 26th) with a playoff loss at the Allianz Championship two weeks ago. Cook has yet to contend for the Toshiba title but has finished inside the top 15 in each of his two starts. Corey Pavin. Newport Beach Country Club seems like such an ideal venue for Pavin. The Ventura native and former All-American at UCLA remains one of the best putters in the world, a trait he’ll have to rely on heavily when navigating the layout’s tricky and occasionally treacherous poa annua greens. The 50-year-old, who will captain the U.S. Ryder Cup team in Wales later this year, finished tied for 13th in his Champions Tour debut in January at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai. Tom Pernice Jr. The Murrieta resident may not have the name recognition of Couples or Pavin, but he has the potential to win every time he tees it up on the senior circuit. Not only did Pernice win the SAS Championship in his over-50 debut last year, he’s remained a regular force on the PGA Tour — he’s made the cut in all three events he’s played, breaking 70 in six of his 12 rounds. Local Focus is an online-only weekly analysis of the PGA Tour and other national circuits from a Southern California perspective. OTHER LOCAL FOCUS FEATURES: Southern Californians at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship Winners and losers from Southern California portion of West Coast Swing Mickelson goes for unprecedented three-peat at Northern Trust Open |
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