Golden Bear attack

Bryce Alderton

Spectators bordered the cart path leading from near the putting green

to the driving range at Newport Beach Country Club Wednesday.

They waited for arguably the greatest golfer of all time to walk

from the clubhouse to the driving range in preparation for his first

round at the scene of his first Toshiba Senior Classic.

Jack Nicklaus made his first appearance at Newport Beach on a day

when he would play the par-71 layout for the first time in a Pro-Am

before Friday’s first round.

The 64-year-old is making his fourth Champions Tour appearance

this year with his best finish a sixth place in the season-opening

MasterCard Championship when he shot a 15-under-par 201.

In the last few years the winner of an unprecedented 18 major

championships has trimmed his schedule, making any appearance that

much more magnified.

But his Champions Tour colleagues acknowledge the influence and

recognition the Hall of Famer generates and were eager to welcome him

to his latest tournament.

“Jack coming out is always a plus for us,” said Gil Morgan, who

claimed last week’s SBC Classic for his 23rd Champions Tour victory

and has played with Nicklaus several times on the PGA and Champions

Tour. “Jack, Arnold [Palmer], Gary [Player], Chi Chi [Rodriguez],

they’ve all been great players in the past and are good for our

tour.”

Allen Doyle, winner of the 2000 Toshiba Senior Classic, expanded

on the importance Nicklaus brings to any tournament he enters.

“The more he can play, the better it is for us on tour,” Doyle

said. “He is the greatest. I get excited with him playing. He and

[Palmer] are first-rate guys and can’t do enough to help our tour.

They are great with the fans.”

Newport Beach CC President Jerry Anderson watched -- along with

about 200 other spectators -- Nicklaus’ first drive off the 10th hole

just past 1 p.m.

Anderson smiled when thinking about the anticipated crowds

expected for the weekend.

“This should boost attendance,” Anderson said. “Jack is very

competitive. He isn’t out here just [to get by].”

Nicklaus has won 10 times on the Champions Tour to go with 70 PGA

Tour victories. The 70 PGA Tour victories rank second to Sam Snead’s

81.

Ben Crenshaw has 19 PGA Tour titles, including the Masters twice,

and enters his third season on the Champions Tour.

Crenshaw warmed up on the range before the start of the afternoon

Pro-Am.

“Anytime he can come out it is always great for us,” Crenshaw

said. “We do all we can to be [at events].”

Nicklaus, wearing a light-blue shirt with black slacks and a

baseball cap, stretched before hitting a bucket of balls.

He finished 15th at his last tournament -- the ACE Group Classic,

shooting a 3-under-par 213 over three rounds.

“I’m 64 years old and have aches and pains just like every other

64-year-old,” Nicklaus said. “I hope [to win], otherwise I wouldn’t

be out here.”

Nicklaus said he was on a golf course design trip to California

and wanted to get a tournament in before April’s Masters. Toshiba

will be his final tournament before the Masters, April 8-11, which he

is still uncertain of whether he will play.

Nicklaus has competed in 43 consecutive Masters, including 40

straight.

“Every single guy who plays this game could learn from him,” Doyle

said.

And if Nicklaus would come out victorious on Sunday?

“It would be unreal,” Doyle said. “I certainly hope he doesn’t

beat me. If he were to win, hopefully, he would feel like he could

play more out here. This is the biggest event Toshiba has ever had.

Whoever wins will be viewed as a greater champion. Whether that is

right or wrong, who knows? But that is why players should be

excited.”

Seems they already are.