Lopez leaves the crowd laughing

NEWPORT BEACH ? George Lopez has a life most men dream about.

Besides the hit television show bearing his name and his successful stand-up act, Lopez participates in as many pro-am golf events as possible. And his wife is perfectly fine with it.

“She’s very good with my golfing,” Lopez said after playing a round with Champions Tour pro James Mason. “I work so hard on the show. I’m going to do more pro-ams.”

Lopez said he’d like to transition from the amateur ranks to being a professional on the Champions Tour in five years when he turns the eligible age of 50.

“I might shoot a 90, but I’m gonna try,” Lopez said jokingly. “I’ll try to qualify for the Champions Tour, I promise you that. That will be the time when Lee Trevino stops playing, so they’ll need another merry Mexican.”

One adjustment Lopez said he will have to make is the early start times. On Wednesday, he teed off at 7 a.m.

“It’s early,” Lopez said. “When a Latino gets up that early, they’re either going to work or just getting home, not going to golf.”

Today, Lopez tees off at 12:30 p.m. in Trevino’s group.

Lopez would like to see a change in the Champions Tour slogan.

“I’m thinking of petitioning the Champions Tour,” Lopez said. “They should change it to ‘these old white dudes can play.’”

RHODEN’S ROAD

For years former Dodgers pitcher and two-time all-star Rick Rhoden played as an amateur in pro-ams.

Now he is aiming to consistently be a professional on the Champions Tour. With a 5-under 66 and a playoff, Rhoden qualified for the Toshiba Classic on Monday and was playing in the pro-am on Wednesday. His net team score was a 10-under 61, eight back of the leaders.

“I’d rather get here without having to qualify,” Rhoden said after his round.

Already having experienced the pressure of Major League Baseball, Rhoden was unfazed heading into a playoff Monday.

“It’s just golf,” he said. “It’s not like it’s life or death. I’m not going to say you don’t get excited. If you play a good hole, you get into the tournament.”

Rhoden is making his first appearance at the Toshiba Classic after qualifying for three of seven tournaments he attempted.

“I have status,” he said. “It just hasn’t gotten me into the tournament.”

Rhoden said he sees similarities in golf and pitching.

“Pitching and golf are very similar,” he said. “When you’re pitching, you throw 100 pitches and not every pitch is good. It’s an accumulation of pitches. You make up for your mistakes. You have to have a short memory. Golf is the same way.”

TODAY’S TOSHIBA CLASSIC PRO-AM TEE ASSIGNMENTS