Nicklaus Will Tee It Up in Toshiba Event
Jack Nicklaus has committed to play the Toshiba Senior Classic on March 18-20 at Newport Beach Country Club, tournament director Jeff Purser said Monday.
This will be the first appearance at the Senior Classic for Nicklaus. He has never played more than seven Champions Tour events in a season since turning 50 in 1990.
For the record:
12:00 a.m. March 10, 2004 For The Record
Los Angeles Times Wednesday March 10, 2004 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 0 inches; 29 words Type of Material: Correction
Golf -- The Toshiba Senior Classic will be played March 19-21 at Newport Beach Country Club, not March 18-20 as was incorrectly reported in a Sports section article Tuesday.
He has not played an official event in Southern California since the 1998 U.S. Senior Open at Riviera Country Club.
“We have had great fields every year, but adding the greatest golfer of all time is pretty exciting,” Purser said. “It just so happened that it fit his schedule this year.”
Nicklaus has battled injuries since 1997, but in two events this season, he has finished sixth and tied for 15th.
It is the first time Nicklaus has started with consecutive top-15 finishes since 1996, the last year he won an official tournament. The sixth is his best finish since 2001.
“It happens to be the right year for it,” Purser said. “He’s feeling healthy and he’s playing pretty good golf.”
Other fan favorites scheduled to compete are: Hale Irwin, Fuzzy Zoeller, Tom Kite, Craig Stadler, Gary McCord, Lee Trevino, Ben Crenshaw, Larry Nelson and Chi Chi Rodriguez.
Australian Rodger Davis is the defending champion.
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