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 Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer, Nick Price, Mark O'Meara and John Cook were some of the golfers who turned 50 last year and became eligible to play on the senior circuit. This year's class also is impressive, with Sandy Lyle, Ian Woosnam, Hal Sutton and Larry Mize able to tee it up on the Champions Tour, which includes stops in March at Newport Beach Country Club and Valencia Country Club in Santa Clarita. The Toshiba Senior Classic, which celebrates its 13th year in Orange County March 7-9, and the AT&T Champions Classic, held the following week, are popular tour stops because of their locations and courses. Players who have already committed to playing in Newport Beach include Cook, Langer, Lyle and Jeff Sluman, said Jeff Purser, the executive director of the Toshiba Senior Classic. Their presence will generate buzz among people interested in seeing some of the most promising new players on the Champions Tour, Purser said, adding that the Toshiba Senior Classic annually is a leader in charity endeavors with $10 million raised the past 10 years for Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian. "Making a great event for the community was our intention when we [became involved] 10 years ago," Purser said. "But when you consider that it's also an international sporting event with a great field, as well as an important cultural, social and charity event, you've got a great recipe for success." Marquee names at last year's event included Ben Crenshaw, Hale Irwin, Tom Kite, Peter Jacobsen, Fuzzy Zoeller, Curtis Strange, Hubert Green and Dave Stockton, Sr. Local products Craig Stadler and Scott Simpson also participated at the Toshiba. All those players, with the exception of Stalder, played the following week in Valencia. Jay Haas, the 2007 Champions Tour Player of the Year, won his first of four events at last year's Toshiba with a two-stroke victory over R.W. Eaks. Tom Purtzer, who finished eighth on the 2007 money list, became the fourth repeat winner at the AT&T Champions Classic, beating Loren Roberts on the fourth playoff hole. Mark O'Meara, whose roots run deep in Orange and Los Angeles counties, thrived at the pair of Southland events in his debut campaign on the Champions Tour in 2007, finishing tied for fifth at Toshiba and tied for 10th at the AT&T. He has plenty of experience on both tracks, playing at Newport Beach as a youngster and competing at Valencia while on the PGA Tour. "I think they're both interesting," said O'Meara of the courses. "Newport's a shorter course, a pretty low-scoring course - what Jay shot there last year was impressive. Valencia is a little bit more demanding." The bottom line for O'Meara is the location of both tournaments. "I always enjoy coming back to Southern California," he said. For tickets to the Toshiba, call (949) 660-1001 or visit toshibaclassic.com. For tickets to the AT&T, call (661) 260-1897 or visit attchampionsclassic.com. |
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