Toshiba Senior Classic Golf: The inaugural Top Five Moments

Richard Dunn

NEWPORT BEACH - Going back to its beginning in 1995, the Toshiba

Senior Classic has enjoyed plenty of thrilling moments, while

establishing itself as one of the best stops on the Senior PGA Tour.

As the Newport-Mesa community gears up for the eighth annual Toshiba

Classic at Newport Beach Country Club March 4-10, here’s a look at the

Daily Pilot’s inaugural picks as the event’s Top Five Moments.

1 -- As usual, it was a close finish to the top spot on the list, but

Bob Murphy’s 80-foot birdie putt on the 17th green to cap a then-Senior

Tour record playoff at nine holes over Jay Sigel in 1997 wins out.

When you take into consideration how young the tournament was at the

time (only its third year), and the fact that the marathon playoff broke

a tour record (since broken and tied by the 2001 Toshiba Senior Classic),

it carries more weight. Plus the shock value of Murphy’s stunning python

putt, which chugged its way up to the second shelf on a difficult

two-tiered green as nightfall was fast approaching.

As Murphy’s putt came through the backdoor of the hole to conclude an

incredible journey, the Irishman -- on March 16, the day before St.

Patrick’s Day -- flipped off his straw hat, tossed his putter in the air

and placed his hands on his head in disbelief.

The playoff started at 18, then played 16, the par-3 17 and 18 in

order on two treks, then 16 and 17 again before Murphy ended the longest

playoff in tour history. (It was topped a year later when David Graham

beat Dave Stockton in a 10-hole playoff at the Royal Caribbean Classic.)

Quipped Sigel: “I was sort of getting dizzy, going around and around

and around.”

2 -- It was hilarious and unforgettable, but the first hole of the

1999 playoff featuring Gary McCord and John Jacobs did not end a

tournament like Murphy’s putt.

However, the theatrics of the five-hole playoff in the ’99 Toshiba

Classic -- highlighted by the first hole -- provided the Senior Tour with

a kick-start that year.

Jacobs appeared to have clinched it on the first playoff hole, but a

magical performance by the showman McCord stole the lead role.

Al Geiberger and Allen Doyle were also in the playoff, but were

eliminated on the first hole as Jacobs chipped in for eagle from 90 feet

and turned the 18th green into a circus act, going from twinkle-toes

steps to a Chi Chi Rodriguez sword dance, then falling backward onto the

turf.

McCord, though, kept the playoff alive with a stunning 18-foot eagle

putt, and, with the cameras rolling, motioned to his buddy Jacobs with a

curled index finger for him to come and fetch his ball from the cup.

Jacobs retrieved his ball, then chucked it into the crowd of 10-deep

people and the greenside gallery at 18 went crazy again.

3 -- In a bizarre way, Senior Tour standout Hale Irwin shot a course

record in the final round to win the 1998 Toshiba Senior Classic.

It will forever go down in Toshiba lore as the Famous Bunker Rake,

which is on display and autographed by Irwin in the Newport Beach Country

Club clubhouse.

Irwin started the Sunday round five strokes behind, but passed 11

players while posting a course-record 62.

It was the year of El Nino, but probably the best weather the event

has enjoyed since moving to Newport Beach in 1996.

But there was nothing odd about Irwin winning. The victory launched

him to another Player of the Year season as he claimed his first of seven

tournament titles.

Irwin, however, was helped greatly at 17 by the Famous Bunker Rake,

which stopped his ball from rolling into the water, allowing him to get

up and down for par on his way to a record finish.

4 -- Spaniard Jose Maria Canizares, proving again that the Toshiba

Classic is fertile ground for first-time winners, pushed the event into

true Senior Tour playoff lore with a nine-hole overtime win over Gil

Morgan last year.

After having three putts lip out in the playoff against Morgan,

Canizares won on the 63rd hole, draining a 24-foot birdie putt on the

same difficult two-tiered green at 17 as Murphy four years earlier.

Canizares holed out on a downhill putt on the course’s signature hole

with nightfall again approaching.

“It’s very hard (to maintain your focus and composure after missing so

many close putts in a nail-biting playoff, especially in cold, windy

conditions),” Canizares said through an interpreter.

For Canizares, it was his first title on the Senior Tour and first win

anywhere since 1992 on the European Tour.

Canizares, who had potential tournament-winning putts lip out on the

first, second and fourth playoff holes, started last year’s final round

five strokes behind leader Terry Mauney and promptly carded a 4-under 67

to earn his way into a playoff with Morgan at 11-under.

5-- The King arrived. The 2000 Toshiba Classic might have been spoiled

by a final-round rainout, allowing Doyle to win a 36-hole event, but it

featured Arnold Palmer for the first time. The 70-year-old legend played

his first competitive rounds of golf in Orange County.

Palmer, the most popular player in golf history and the biggest name

ever to play in the Toshiba, arrived for his Thursday Pro-Am round to

about 1,200 fans surrounding the first tee for his grand entrance.

The gallery for his pro-am round was larger than most for marquee

players during the actual tournament. He caused a pleasant frenzy in the

Toshiba camp when he committed three weeks before the event, making a

rare appearance on the Senior Tour.

“People get into the (Toshiba Classic),” Jacobs said. “Arnold Palmer’s

there for the first time and it’s like Jesus Christ showed up to tease

the fans.”

What did Palmer shoot? Few cared and even fewer remembered.