Toshiba Classic comes to Newport Beach with added importance with move to the fall

This year has been a great one for Mark O’Meara. In July, the 58-year-old was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

There’s something else that would make his 2015 all the sweeter: a victory this weekend in the Toshiba Classic, a seniors tournament at Newport Beach Country Club. O’Meara discovered his game at nearby Mission Viejo Country Club.

“It would mean everything,” O’Meara said of winning the Toshiba Classic, which begins with the first of three rounds Friday. “I’ve come close a couple of times. I’m disappointed I haven’t won more on the Champions Tour. In fairness, the quality of play out here is incredible.”

In the eight years O’Meara has played at the Toshiba Classic, he’s finished within the top eight four times, including tied for second in 2009 and for the second time, tied for fifth last year. Someone familiar with Newport Beach got in his way last year. That would be Fred Couples, who won the event for the second time; he also won it in 2010.

Couples recently bought a home in Newport Beach, so many think he has more of a home-course advantage, even though he lives closer to Big Canyon Country Club.

“He’s a resident of Newport Beach and he must play this course quite a bit,” said Colin Montgomerie, the Scottish golfer who leads the Charles Schwab Cup race, the season-long points system to determine the Champions Tour yearly winner.

“There’s a reason why Freddie Couples does well anyway, because Freddie Couples is bloody good, right? It doesn’t matter where he’s playing. Freddie Couples is good wherever he plays.”

Montgomerie is just 39 points ahead of Jeff Maggert.

In addition to Montgomerie and Maggert, the top 30 money winners on the Champions Tour have descended on Newport Beach to vie for the Toshiba Classic crystal trophy.

The 21st annual Toshiba Classic has a bit more importance than in years past, as the event usually takes place in March. This time, it’s one of the final four events on the Champions Tour.

Bernhard Langer, the two-time Masters champion who won the Toshiba Classic in 2008 and finished second in 2014 and 2009, is in contention, just 66 points behind Montgomerie

“Bernhard, I think, is playing the best golf of his life,” O’Meara said. “There are 25-30 guys who have a good shot at winning. Hopefully I can have a great week and have a shot at contending. It would mean a lot to me, just for the history I have here in Orange County. Growing up here and learning to play here. Playing high school matches at Newport Beach Country Club. There are a lot of fond memories there.”

sports@latimes.com

Virgen is a Times correspondent.