Strong field heads to Toshiba Classic

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Newport Beach, Calif. - Amid a field as deep and competitive as the 2008 Toshiba Classic boasts, Sandy Lyle is hoping to make waves in Newport Beach this week with a view to the ultimate splash - a victory in his Champions Tour debut.

Lyle, who turned 50 on Feb. 9, officially joins the Champions Tour party this week in chase of defending Toshiba Classic champion Jay Haas and the $255,000 winner's check at the $1.7 million Toshiba Classic, televised by GOLF CHANNEL from the par-71, 6,598-yard Newport Beach Country Club.

The Toshiba Classic features a fresh element to its distinguished, deep and strong field. Lyle is one of several players making their first Toshiba Classic appearance, along with Fred Funk, Bernhard Langer, John Cook, Jeff Sluman, Mark Wiebe and Wayne Grady. All of the aforementioned outside of Funk are playing their first full season on the Champions Tour.

"We are honored and privileged to have Sandy achieve a personal milestone at the Toshiba Classic," Toshiba Classic Tournament Director Jeff Purser said. "That he chose to make his Champions Tour debut in Newport Beach is a testament to the Toshiba Classic's reputation for attracting the best Champions Tour players in a setting that is amenable to the players and their families. He fits right in with the strength of our field and has as good a chance to win this week as anyone."

The Toshiba Classic also welcomes Loren Roberts, 2008 Champions Tour winners Jerry Pate and Scott Hoch, who has won the last two Champions Tour events, 11 World Golf Hall of Famers and seven past Classic champions to this week's field.

Lyle's golfing credentials are comparable with his Champions Tour peers. An owner of 29 worldwide victories between 1978-92, including six wins and two majors on the PGA TOUR and 18 wins on the European Tour, Lyle was the first British winner at the Masters (in 1988) and won his first PGA TOUR event at the 1985 British Open.

A three-time European Order of Merit winner (1979, 1980 and 1985), Lyle was a five-time selection to Europe's Ryder Cup team in addition to serving as an assistant captain on the Europeans' victorious 2006 Ryder Cup team, and played on three World Cup teams and seven Dunhill Cup squads for England. He splits his time residing in Scotland and Florida.

The Toshiba Classic boasts the three winningest players in Champions Tour history (Irwin has 45 titles, Trevino 29 and Gil Morgan 25), the top 11 players on the Champions Tour's all-time money list, led by Irwin's $24,654,218 entering 2008, and the winners from 22 Champions Tour events in 2007.

Additionally, the Classic holds 21 of the top 23 players from the 2007 Charles Schwab Cup final standings, 24 of the top 25 and 34 of the top 36 players on the 2007 Champions Tour money list and the tour's final money list champions from 15 of the last 16 seasons.

Last year, the Toshiba Classic, in its 10th year, raised enough money to become the first Champions Tour event to cross the $10 million threshold in charitable contributions. Newport Beach's Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian is in its 11th year as the tournament operator. The Hoag Hospital Foundation is the event's chief charitable benefactor.

"Our efforts and contributions to charity will always be the driving force behind the Toshiba Classic, and we take an immeasurable sense of pride in the funding that we have helped raise for Hoag Hospital Foundation and our partner organizations within Orange County," said Mark Simons, Vice President and General Manager, Toshiba America Inc, Digital Products Division. "The players have always been very supportive of our tournament week activities which help to bring computers to local classrooms and scholarships for local students."

Tickets are $25 at the gate. Season clubhouse badges providing admission to the grounds and clubhouse for practice rounds and the tournament are $100. To order tickets and to inquire about corporate ticket packages, please call 949-660-1001 or order online at www.toshibaclassic.com <http://www.toshibaclassic.com>.