Haas, Hoch withdraw from Toshiba Classic

Jay Haas

Jay Haas, the 2007 Toshiba Classic champion, will miss the Toshiba Classic for the second straight year and for the same reason. Scott Hoch, an 11-time PGA Tour winner, also withdrew from the tournament, which starts Friday at Newport Beach County Club.

Haas’ daughter is competing for a state title in basketball in South Carolina. That’s why he missed last year.

He’s had success at the Toshiba Classic. He won it in 2007 when he broke Hale Irwin’s five-year tournament record, finishing 19-under-par 194 (65-64-65), two better than Irwin’s mark. He had only one bogey in the 54 holes.

In 2008, Haas nearly became the Toshiba’s first repeat winner, but he lost to Bernhard Langer in a seven-hole playoff.

Hoch withdrew because of health reasons.

Morris Hatalsky and Fulton Allem have now entered into the field for the Toshiba Classic.