Seeing the hole picture

They were just simple basketball games played in the backyard at a house in Ohio, but to Jeff Purser they meant much more.

Just the fact that it was competition meant that it was important for Purser, now the Toshiba Classic tournament director. The way Purser’s friend, Jerry Velasquez, describes the 43-year-old as a teen could be the same picture painted for his role now, especially this week at Newport Beach Country Club.

“He played hard,” Velasquez said. “He wasn’t going to lose. He was aggressive.”

It’s a different situation this week, but Purser still has his game face on.

When a crisis comes, or even for a minute detail dealing with the tournament, Purser is the go-to guy. He’s ready. He doesn’t turn anything down, because he doesn’t want to lose.

“I’m a very competitive person and that comes out in my personality,” he said. “I wear my emotions on my sleeve. I’m involved and I’m always trying to get the best out of everyone.”

In the weeks leading up to the tournament, e-mails flood his inbox. He takes and makes hundreds of calls. Purser wants to make sure everything is done right.

Throughout the past 13 years, Purser has been a big reason the Toshiba Classic has been one of the most successful events on the Champions Tour (for players 50 and over). The Toshiba Classic is tops on the tour when it comes to money raised for charity. Purser is proud of that for sure.

And he wants to keep it that way.

He has his close friend to help out, behind the scenes. Velasquez, a police officer in Ohio, is in charge of security at the Toshiba Classic. Purser trusts him like a brother, so it’s natural he would assign a great deal of responsibility to Velasquez.

They used to battle each other when they played hoops in that backyard, but now they’ll work together. Yet, Velasquez knows it’s Purser’s show.

“He does come off as aggressive and for people who don’t know him, they might take offense to that,” Velasquez said. “I’ve seen him like that and I expect that out of him. He might get that way with me. But that’s OK, because it will be forgotten about. He’s a strong person and wants things done his way.”

Purser is not just about the Toshiba Classic, however. He’s also about the golfers. Some of them he considers friends and he’ll do his best to make sure that they are comfortable throughout their stay in Newport Beach.

The tournament has become known for attracting players because of the sunny weather and the variety of shops and attractions in Southern California. But Purser doesn’t want to rest on that.

He takes supreme pride in the job he does, but he knows the players are the main reason for the event’s success. So it makes sense that the duty he dreads most about his job is telling players they are not able to receive a sponsor exemption into the Toshiba Classic.

There are only four spots for sponsor exemptions, but he sees up to 40 requests asking for help to get in.

He has seen many players who, in the past, have been a part of the tour and have sometimes helped without much in return. They are no longer eligible to play, but they seek the sponsor exemptions.

“It’s a tough decision to make,” he said. “Especially after you’ve known these players for a few years and they’ve helped you.”

Aside from the players, corporate sponsorship is extremely important for the tournament to stay alive. But even during a down economy, Purser doesn’t worry about that. He has faith in his staff and tournament chairman Ira Garbutt.

Before Garbutt, it was Hank Adler who planted the seeds and kept the tournament going.

“We are on solid footing,” Purser said. “We have never been in danger of not being here. Will we raise $1 million [for charity]? Probably not. But we’ll be deep in six figures. We are still No. 1 on the Champions Tour [for raising money for charity].”

Garbutt believes Purser is a big reason for that mark.

“Jeff is fantastic,” Garbutt said. “This tournament wouldn’t be anywhere near as successful as it is now if it weren’t for Jeff’s expertise, experience and knowledge ... He’s done a fabulous job.”