Golf:

My return Monday to Newport Beach Country Club was a homecoming of sorts, to a place where I spent some long days covering the Toshiba Classic in 2004 and 2005 (it was called the Toshiba Senior Classic then) for this paper.

I recognized faces such as NBCC head pro Paul Hahn and Tournament Director Jeff Purser, and saw bleacher frames surrounding the 18th green, getting ready for the big three days next month.

I’ve been out of the “golfing know� for awhile, so I’m reacquainting myself with the game’s surroundings and people.

Stepping onto the NBCC grounds gave a smidgen of familiarity to at least soothe the return to this game. I must admit, though, that I had to ask how to get to the Terrace Room for the Toshiba Classic Media Day.

Toshiba’s aroma is in the air.

Three weeks from today, NBCC will be bustling with volunteers, golfers and fans readying for the 16th Toshiba Classic, the Champions Tour’s (players 50 and older) Southern California stop, scheduled March 5-7.

The field for this year’s Toshiba boasts some recognizable names (Tom Watson, runner-up in last year’s British Open and a 13-time Champions Tour winner; returning tournament champion Eduardo Romero; World Golf Hall of Fame members Hale Irwin and Isao Aoki and Champions Tour rookies Corey Pavin, Fred Couples and Paul Azinger). Purser stopped short of calling this THE best field in the tournament’s history – see Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus - but acknowledged it’s worthy of consideration.

Mark O’Meara, a 16-time PGA Tour winner who finished tied for second by one stroke to 2009 Toshiba champion Eduardo Romero, is also among the early commitments.

O’Meara’s 2009 finish came on a course he frequented in junior golf and high school days at Mission Viejo.

“I played [NBCC] 30, 40, 50 times, but I hadn’t been back in many years (his first Champions Tour season was 2007),� said O’Meara, who took questions by phone Monday from Houston, his new permanent home. “[NBCC] has a lot of character to it.�

O’Meara, 53, a former Costa Mesa City Championship winner, said the course suits itself to low scores. “It’s good for the fans. People are drawn to guys shooting birdies and eagles.�

The average winning score for the last nine tournaments is 13.8-under par, including Jay Haas’ record-setting 19-under finish en route to the 2007 Toshiba title.

The addition of Couples, Pavin and Azinger, all major champions, helps too, O’Meara who plans to play 20 tournaments this year, said. “Having recognized players people know about is a plus for our tour.�

I like O’Meara’s word choice of ‘our’ tour, as a collective body is larger than any one player.

All of us would do well to follow that thought.

 NBCC will close at 3 p.m. Feb. 27 and re-open March 9, Hahn said.

Players for this year’s Toshiba may notice a change when they step to the par-three eighth tee. The larger and wider tee area, shifted more to the right, allows for a straighter shot into the green, Hahn said.

BRYCE ALDERTON’S golf column appears Wednesdays. He may be reached by e-mail at [email protected].