Crenshaw here to win

NEWPORT BEACH — Ben Crenshaw doesn’t come across as a guy who finished tied for third the past two years at the Toshiba Classic. He can’t even be mistaken for a pro who hast yet to win on the Champions Tour. It’s not that he lacks for passion. It’s just that there is a certain sense of contentment with Crenshaw.

At least that’s what was expressed during Crenshaw’s interview with the media at Newport Beach Country Club Wednesday afternoon after playing in a pro-am through light rain.

Don’t blame him. He was asked to reflect on his past, to talk about his Masters wins in 1984 and 1995.

In reality, he did show some fire for why he’s at Newport Beach Country Club. He’s back again in the Toshiba Classic, looking for that first Champions Tour win.

“Well, I’d like to just get in that position, that’s first and foremost” Crenshaw said, answering a question about playing the course at his best, if he could win here. “I can’t think about winning it, but I’d like to play well and get into position. That’s what I’m striving for anyway. But I would like to get in there again.”

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Crenshaw’s Masters win in 1984, the victory he described as a relief to win.

“I had had a number of close finishes in major championships, but you never know or prove it to yourself until it happens,” Crenshaw said. “So it was a great relief for me to win there.”

His win in at the 1995 Masters was a different story, one that left even Crenshaw in awe. At times when he spoke of the win Wednesday, he would stare up into nothing as if he were reliving the win.

“I still can’t believe to this day that I played that well on that particular week,” he said. “I’ve said many times, it’s unexplainable. Under the circumstances, I don’t know how I got through. In retrospect, I played the whole week with five bogeys, and I’ve never done that in a major tournament.”

Tiger Woods made his Masters debut in 1995, but Crenshaw was the main story, winning his second Masters, playing at his best when he could’ve easily been at his worst. Just days before the tournament, Crenshaw’s friend and mentor Harvey Penick died. Crenshaw served as a pallbearer at the funeral to bury the great teaching pro in Texas and then went to compete in Augusta.

“I just couldn’t believe that I was getting the opportunity to play like that on that week where everyone was thinking of Harvey Penick that week,” said Crenshaw, who has 19 wins on the PGA Tour. “Hard to believe still.”

It’s quite hard to believe that Crenshaw has yet to win on the Champions Tour. In his five years on the Champions Tour, his highest finish came two years ago, when he was second in the U.S. Senior Open Championship.

But he comes back to Newport Beach Country Club with some confidence and his recent T3-finish at the ACE Group Classic in Naples, Fla, two weeks ago. He also enters with some familiarity of the area, at least. He’s had a home in Dana Point for the past 10 years.

In addition, like many of his fellow pros on the Champions Tour he shares an affection for the course (6,598 yards), which is the second shortest on the tour. Now he’ll try to make the most of it, perhaps attaining a different type of contentment.

The greens are known to be challenging here, but that’s OK for Crenshaw.

“You know, we’ll all say we all have to hole more putts,” said Crenshaw, who tees off Friday at 11:55 a.m. with defending champ Bernhard Langer and Scott Hoch. “That’s what gets you over the hump. You’ve got to see the ball go in enough times at the right time to put yourself in position.

“So timely birdies and timely putts here and there, usually the short game, at least to me, that breeds confidence. If you see enough balls disappear, that I think most golfers will tell you, that gives you more confidence than anything.”

 Grey skies have cleared up for the Toshiba Classic. According to weather.com, which is produced by The Weather Channel, sunny days are the forecast for the weekend. There is just a 10% chance of rain on Friday and Sunday. No chance of rain on Saturday. On Monday the website had 50% of showers on Saturday and 40% for Sunday. If by chance it is a bit rainy like Wednesday, tournament officials expect the rounds to played.

 Among those competing in Wednesday’s pro-am was none other than Cade McNown, the former UCLA quarterback who also had a stint in the NFL. He didn’t finish first. Instead it was a different set of amateurs: George Klaus, John Joliet, Brad Klaus, Dick Pickup. The quartet, along with pro Dana Quigley, finished first for low gross (62) and tied for first for low net (54).

STEVE VIRGEN may be reached at (714) 966-4616 or by e-mail at [email protected].