Lehman on board

Tom Lehman, the current money-list leader on the Champions Tour, is one of five golfing greats who have committed to this year’s Toshiba Classic at Newport Beach Country Club.

Hale Irwin, the Champions Tour winningest player and the Classic’s only two-time champ, along with fellow World Golf Hall of Famers Nick Price and Lee Trevino are intent on playing in the 17th annual Toshiba Classic, as is former U.S. Ryder Cup team captain (2008) Paul Azinger.

The Toshiba Classic takes place March 7 through 13, with tournament play the final three days.

Lehman, the 1996 British Open champion, won the Allianz championship and was runner-up at the season-opening Mitsubishi Electric Championship.

Irwin, a 1992 Hall of Fame inductee, holds seven Champions Tour majors. He captured 20 titles on the PGA Tour, highlighted by the 1974, 1979 and 1990 U.S. Opens.

Irwin can still bring it. He tied for sixth at the Allianz Championship. It was his 199th top-10 finish and he’s now just four shy of tying Bob Charles Champions Tour mark of 203.

Price was fifth on the Champions Tour money list last year, when he won two events.

Trevino, who has won 29 times each on the PGA and Champions Tours, said the Toshiba Classic is the only official full-field Champions Tour event he plans to play in 2011.

“I love this course, I love this tournament, and I wanted to play again for the fans,” Trevino, 71, said in a release.

For more information, including ticket prices, visit https://www.toshibaclassic.com.

— From staff reports