Bryce AldertonDefending champion Tom Purtzer, two-time winner...

Bryce Alderton

Defending champion Tom Purtzer, two-time winner Hale Irwin, Curtis

Strange, Tom Watson, Raymond Floyd, Gil Morgan and Fuzzy Zoeller,

among other golfers, have verbally committed to play in next month’s

Toshiba Senior Classic while officials await word from “the Golden

Bear,” Tournament Director Jeff Purser said Tuesday.

At this stage, the Champions Tour’s most philanthropic stop

features 27 of the top 30 players from last year’s money list, among

the field of 78 that will converge on Newport Beach Country Club for

the first round in 30 days.

That field could include a repeat appearance by the legendary Jack

Nicklaus.

“I’m cautiously optimistic,” said Purser, in his eighth year as

Toshiba’s tournament director, of Nicklaus returning to Newport Beach

Country Club after last year’s debut performance. “The decision will

be based on how he feels. People have told me he would like to play

one event before the Masters. We hope it’s ours.”

Nicklaus, 65, winner of 70 PGA Tour titles and 18 major

championships, shot 3-under-par (210) over three rounds at last

year’s Toshiba, finishing tied for 36th.

In his only event in 2005, Nicklaus claimed 11 skins to win the

Wendy’s Champions Skins Game Feb. 6 in at the Wailea Resort in Maui,

Hawaii.

John Jacobs, who finished third, two shots behind Purtzer last

year, along with Gil Morgan and Jim Colbert, who rank second and

fifth, respectively, on the Champions Tour’s all-time money list, are

also among the early commitments Purser received.

Craig Stadler, who won five times in his Champions Tour debut to

claim the money title last season, regretfully will not compete in

this year’s tournament due to a “personal engagement,” Purser said.

Peter Jacobsen is expected to miss four to six weeks after

undergoing successful knee surgery Tuesday, the tour announced.

Lee Trevino has battled back trouble early this year, but Purser

remains hopeful for the two-time U.S. Open champion.

With the returns of Watson and Jim Thorpe, won twice on tour last

year, the field remains strong, Purser said.

As of Tuesday, Purser hadn’t given official word on whether he

would give Newport Beach Country Club head professional Paul Hahn a

second straight sponsor’s exemption into the tournament.

Tour eligibility rules restrict exemptions, or invitations, to

five.

And the list is growing.

Two spots are considered “restricted,” meaning players with a

victory on either the PGA or Champions tours, or those deemed

“Veteran Members,” are exempt into the particular tournament. The

other three exemptions are unrestricted.

Purser listed former Toshiba winners Gary McCord (1999) and Rodger Davis (2003), Pete Oakley, last year’s Senior British Open champion,

and Hall of Famer Chi Chi Rodriguez, among those in line for

exemptions.

Davis, who has competed in two events this year, is playing part

of the season on a special medical extension after back problems

caused him to sit out several weeks in 2004.

Oakley earned exemption on tour for a year following his victory

in July.

“It’s a tough year, I’d love to get Paul in,” Purser said.

Hahn grinned and said he hasn’t “bugged” Purser, whom he considers

a good friend, about the matter.

“I would approach [the championship] differently,” said Hahn, who

turned 51 Friday. “Last year I was so wrapped up in it.”