El Gato back to defend

NEWPORT BEACH — A slimmer Eduardo Romero said he is ready to be the first back-to-back champion at the Toshiba Classic Wednesday.

During the winter off-season, the Argentina native said he went back home and worked hard on his game and his fitness because the level of competition on the Champions Tour was about to dramatically improve.

However, while Romero shed pounds and little flaws off his golf game, he returns to the to Newport Beach Country Club bulked up with extra confidence.

“I’m working a lot with my putter three or four hours per day,” he said. “I feel a lot of confidence now. I’m ready. I’m ready for this week.”

Romero may need more than his newfound confidence to be the first back-to-back champion.

He will tee up Friday against a field comprised of 11 World Golf Hall of Famers, 23 PGA Tour and Champions Tour major winners — arguably the tournament’s strongest field in its 16-year history.

But Romero said he feels excited and is playing better than he did last year at the Classic.

But more importantly, he said that he knows the secret to being successful on this course.

“I think the key was to put the ball in the fairway from the tee,” Romero said. “And the second shot, it’s not long … That’s what I used last year and it worked. Then I try the same for today [in the Pro-Am and] for this week.”

That strategy was implemented perfectly last year when Romero won with an 11-under-par 202 — one stroke better than Mission Viejo-native Mark O’Meara and Joey Sindlelar.

Romero separated himself from the field after making three consecutive birdies, and four in the first six, to start the back nine on Sunday.

But for this week, Romero is considering taking the putter out of the bag that arguably won last year’s Classic.

“Today, I’m practicing with a new putter, a short one, and I’ll see what happens,” he said. “But I’ll stick with the belly putter. [The green] is very difficult, especially with the short putter. I am working a little bit [Wednesday] and see what happens [Thursday].”

Romero made it no secret that he wants to be the first back-to-back champion of the Classic, but his overall goal for the 2010 Champions Tour is to win at least two events.

“I’m working to win two tournaments, especially one of the majors,” he said. “I think it’s the British Open this year. I played it very good a couple years ago. I finished second and top five. And [I] played Carnoustie many years ago. I think, this year, it will be possible to win the British Open.”

But it seems like the odds are stacked against him, according to rankings posted on the Champions Tour website Monday.

Champions Tour-rookie and current Charles Schwab cup points leader Fred Couples is the favorite at the Classic, and O’Meara, a former Costa Mesa City champion, is ranked fourth.

Romero said he feels he deserves the spot on that top five, but acknowledges the competition is stronger on the Champions Tour, and he likes it that way.

“When the people talk in Argentina, ‘When are you going to win on the Champions Tour? You are a good player,’ ” Romero said of the tour for golfers 50 and over. “But, yes, there is 100 more good players like me. It’s fantastic. It’s a strong feeling every year … I think it’s one of the best tours in the world.”

Romero, along with Tom Kite and Gil Morgan, will tee off at 11:46 a.m. Friday on the first tee in the Classic’s opening round.

After Romero’s group, the marquee group of Couples, O’Meara and 2009 British Open runner-up Tom Watson will tee off at 11:55 a.m.