Frost returns to NBCC
The last time someone shot as low as David Frost did at the Toshiba Classic, his name was Jay Haas and he went on to nearly become the first player to repeat at the Champions Tour event at Newport Beach Country Club.
Frost, who shot 19-under-par 194 last year, will try to duplicate Haas but complete the feat this week at the 20th Toshiba Classic.
The excitement is building toward the tournament, which begins Friday.
Haas, the 2007 Toshiba champion who lost in a playoff to win against Bernhard Langer in 2008, just might be in contention to capture the 20th anniversary championship.
Haas, 60, has three top-five finishes in as many starts this year. Eight of his nine rounds have been in the 60s and he is a combined 44-under-par.
Langer could be described as hotter. He’s the Champions Tour money list leader, as well as No. 1 in the season-long Charles Schwab Cup race. He was the Arnold Palmer Award winner for being the money leader for the fifth time last year.
And he got off to a great start this year by winning the season-opening Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai. He finished tied for seventh and T2 in his next two events.
In addition to Langer, the Toshiba Classic will also feature seven more World Golf Hall of Famers, including Fred Couples (2010 Toshiba champion), Ben Crenshaw, Hale Irwin (1998 and 2002 Toshiba champion), Sandy Lyle, Colin Montgomery, Curtis Strange and 2014 Ryder Cup captain Tom Watson.
“One of the reasons spectators love this event so much is because they get to see golf’s living legends playing in their own backyard,” said Jeff Purser, executive director of the Toshiba Classic. “It’s not every day that golf fans have the opportunity to watch a group of Hall of Fame members play competitively, and we are proud to play host to such a special group of players this year.”
Montgomerie is the featured speaker at the annual Breakfast With A Champion Tuesday morning at the Balboa Bay Resort.
Pro-Am play takes place Monday, and Classic Pro-Am is Wednesday and Thursday before the first of three rounds that begins on Friday.
Expect the players to rave about the Newport Beach course, as great weather has followed the rain from last weekend.
The Champions Tour pros will be vying for the $262,500 winner’s check. The tournament will be televised live on the Golf Channel.