Irwin withdraws from Toshiba after death in the family

World Hall of Fame Golfer Hale Irwin withdrew from the Toshiba Classic Thursday morning because his mother died.

Bruce Vaughan will replace Irwin, the Toshiba tournament’s only two-time winner.

With 45 titles, Irwin is the most successful player in Champions Tour history. He won his first Toshiba Classic title in 1998, using a final round nine-under-par 62 to vault 11 players and claim a one-shot victory. In 2002, he set a then-tournament record 196 and his five-shot victory was larger than the past six winners combined.

At 62, he is still productive earning $1,269,513 on the Champions Tour in 2007.

He finished with 10 top-10 finishes last year.

He claimed 20 PGA Tour titles, highlighted by 1974, 1979 and 1990 U.S. Opens, and played on the victorious 1991 U.S. Ryder Cup team.

The Toshiba Classic begins with first-round play Friday.