Langer, Haas on board

If Fred Couples is to become the Toshiba Classic’s first repeat winner, he’ll have to do it against an elite field.

Bernhard Langer and Jay Haas, who each have won a Classic title, have committed to this year’s 16th annual tournament March 7 through 13 at the Newport Beach Country Club.

Langer, the Champions Tour Player of the Year and Arnold Palmer Award winner (Champions Tour money list title) each of the past three seasons, and Haas, the 2006 and 2007 Champions Tour Player of the Year and Arnold Palmer Award winner, are joined by World Golf Hall of Famers Tom Kite and Ben Crenshaw who have given early commitments.

Tom Watson, Corey Pavin, John Cook and Mark O’Meara have also committed to play in the Toshiba Classic.

The $1.7 million Toshiba Classic, the only Southern California event on the Champions Tour, awards a $255,000 winner’s check. It will be televised on Golf Channel March 11 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.; March 12 from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. and March 13 from 4 to 6:30 p.m.

For ticket information visit https://www.ToshibaClassic.com.

— From staff reports