Champions Tour

There was a bit of an awkward silence when I delivered the final question to the great Hale Irwin during a phone interview last week. Irwin was asked when the last time he won on the Champions Tour, for golfers 50 and older. For a moment I thought he would tell me he was done with winning and content with all that he had accomplished. Perish that thought. "It's been several years," Irwin said of his last win, which was five years ago. "I'm anxious to try to get back in the winner's circle.

Hale Irwin is known as the only two-time champion of the Toshiba Classic. During the week of the 18th Toshiba Classic, he'll be known as keynote speaker at the annual Breakfast with a Champion, presented by the Allergan Foundation on March 13. The annual event, one of the highlights during the tournament, begins at 7 a.m. at the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel & Spa. Tickets are $120 per seat. Tables are also available; contact the Toshiba Classic at (949) 660-1001 for more information.

Jeff Purser, the executive director of the Toshiba Classic, maintains a busy and hectic life during the tournament, which is March 12-18 at the Newport Beach Country Club. But Purser is used to the heavy schedule, and he and his staff have been getting ready well before the actual week ensues. He took time out of his busy schedule to answer five questions before the Toshiba Classic began. Question: What is the most unique feature from this 18th annual Toshiba Classic?

For Corey Pavin, it was a once-in-a-lifetime shot, but he's hoping the Allianz Championship won't be his once-in-a-lifetime victory on the Champions Tour. In 34 starts on the Champions Tour, Pavin had never won. But on the 35th, something magical happened. Some of that magic took place on the par-three 14th hole at Broken Sound Golf Club in Boca Raton, Fla. on Feb. 12. Pavin had an incredible par save. He turned around his eight-iron and hit left-handed for a chip shot. That was basically the only option Pavin had as there was a tree root to the left of the ball.

There's sure to be several big-time names at the 18th Toshiba Classic March 12-18 at Newport Beach Country Club. Three of those golfers have already committed. Nick Price, the Toshiba Classic defending champion, along with Hall of Famer Tom Watson and local favorite John Cook have made early confirmations to compete in the Champions Tour event. Price, 54, a Hall of Famer, will try to become the first back-to-back winner at the Toshiba Classic. He'll be hard-pressed to match last year's performance.

NEWPORT BEACH — At the 17th Toshiba Classic many saw Nick Price, a three-time major winner, do his best to maintain a first-round five-shot lead. In the ropes, if they looked closely and heard him speak afterward, they would've seen a rebirth of a champion. Price, a World Golf Hall of Famer who said he hit a low point in his career in his late 40s, said he feels like he's having fun again. Collecting the $255,000 winner's check Sunday at Newport Beach Country Club helped.

Robert Thompson let his putter carry him from qualifying for the 17th Toshiba Classic to a tie for fifth following Sunday's final round at Newport Beach Country Club. Thompson scored a bogey-free final round to finish 13-under-par 200 (68-66-66), placing four shots behind tournament champion Nick Price. Price (17-under) finished one shot ahead of Mark Wiebe for his fourth Champions Tour title. Thompson, 2010 Toshiba champion Fred Couples and Brad Bryant all finished the tournament at 13-under.

NEWPORT BEACH - At the 17th Toshiba Classic many saw Nick Price, a three-time major winner, do his best to maintain a first-round five-shot lead. In the ropes, if they looked closely and heard him speak afterward, they would've seen a rebirth of a champion. Price, a World Golf Hall of Famer who said he hit a low point in his career in his late 40s, said he feels like he's having fun again. Collecting the $255,000 winner's check Sunday at Newport Beach Country Club helped. Holding off a pesky Mark Wiebe also did the trick.

NEWPORT BEACH - Joe Ozaki of Japan played in the first round of the Toshiba Classic Friday not knowing his family’s status after a massive earthquake and subsequent tsunami hit his homeland the night before. He figured they’d be OK because someone would’ve gotten in touch with him if there was trouble. Ozaki, whose home is in Tokyo, spoke with his wife, Yoshie, Friday night, helping him put his mind at ease. It also helped him make a jump from tied for 15 th to tied for third after a second-round best 7-under-par 64 Saturday at Newport Beach Country Club.