Trevino to play Toshiba

Lee Trevino, a World Golf Hall of Famer and one of the most revered personalities in the game, has committed to play in his third consecutive Toshiba Classic, March 1-7 at Newport Beach Country Club.

At age 70, Trevino is the oldest player in the Toshiba Classic field.

Trevino has won 29 times on the PGA and Champions Tours. He owns six PGA Tour majors with the 1968 and 1971 U.S. Opens, 1971 and 1972 British Opens and 1974 and 1984 PGA Tour Championships.

He holds four Champions Tour majors: the 1990 U.S. Senior Open, 1992 and 1994 PGA Seniors’ Championships and the 1992 Tradition.

The 1967 PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year, Trevino won five Vardon Trophies (low scoring average), played on six U.S. Ryder Cup teams and captained the 1985 Ryder Cup team. ? When he won the 1968 U.S. Open, Trevino became the first player in U.S. Open history to shoot under par and in the 60s in all four rounds.

He has had many commercial and movie credits, such as his role in the popular golf movie, “Happy Gilmore.”

“Lee Trevino is a name that speaks for itself in golf and across the world’s sporting landscape because of his incredible achievement throughout his career,” Toshiba Classic Tournament Executive Director Jeff Purser said. “Combine that with the fact that he is still one of golf’s iconic personalities and fan favorites, his presence in the Toshiba Classic field should not be taken for granted by golf fans who should consider themselves fortunate to still have an opportunity to watch a living legend compete in professional golf.”

The Toshiba Classic will be Trevino’s second Champions Tour start of 2010. He played in only six Tour events last year, four in 2008, and six in 2007.

Trevino’s best finish at the Toshiba Classic was a tie for fourth place in 1996, and he did post his best Champions Tour round of 2009 in the first round of the Toshiba Classic (even-par 71), so the possibility of him accomplishing the rare feat of shooting his age in next week’s Classic is a real one.

The Toshiba Classic has also received new commitments from Hall of Famer Curtis Strange, Champions Tour rookie Tom Lehman, San Diego natives and major champions Scott Simpson (1987 U.S. Open) and Craig Stadler (1982 Masters), and two-time Champions Tour major winner Peter Jacobsen, who missed the 2009 Toshiba while recovering from left shoulder surgery.

The $1.7 million Toshiba Classic, the only Southern California event on the Champions Tour, awards a $255,000 winner’s check.

Daily tickets for the Toshiba Classic are $20 if purchased in advance, or $25 at the gate. Season clubhouse badges, providing admission to the grounds and clubhouse for practice rounds and the tournament, are $100.

All tickets and corporate packages can be obtained by calling (949) 660-1001 or by going to www.ToshibaClassic.com.

— From staff reports