NEW ORLEANS -- Paul Azinger hemmed. Then he hawed. Finally, with an aw shucks shrug of his shoulders, the 1993 PGA Championship winner said, "I really didn't do anything, only something a friend would do.'' Well here's what a friend like Azinger did. He opened his home to Brian Carter, a fishing guide from Port Sulphur, La., in the days after Hurricane Katrina's deadly storm surge practically gobbled up everything in its path in Carter's world, his home and his boat included. "You think anyone else would have taken him in?'' Azinger said, laughing at Carter's expense. Azinger, an avid fisherman, was sticking the needle in Carter because he was within earshot, standing near the ninth green at English Turn Golf & Country Club just after Azinger completed his first round in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
While the world is becoming acquainted with the heroic hurricane relief
efforts of Louisiana PGA TOUR members David Toms, Kelly Gibson and Hal
Sutton as the light shines on them during this week's Zurich
Classic, they weren't the only players to lend a helping hand. Phil Mickelson dug deep into his pocket, offering a $250,000
contribution. Vijay Singh ponied up
$40,000. Doug Barron sent $11,000.
Money, of course, was in great need and still is as south Louisiana continues its slow recovery from Katrina's destruction and the flooding that followed in her wake. But other acts of kindness, like Azinger's, often go unnoticed. But when someone is willing to open his house to a friend in need, it speaks volumes about a person's character. Azinger lent Carter his boat to tool around in, while he was staying with the Azingers in Bradenton, Fla. When it was time for Carter to return to Louisiana to assess his damages, Azinger allowed him to take the boat with him. "It was just an excuse for me to take another fishing trip over there,'' Azinger said, laughing slyly. "I was like, 'Hey honey, I've got to go get the boat back.' '' The Azingers again welcomed the Carters to Florida when Hurricane Rita was threatening the area in late September. "Now he's calling me all the time,'' Azinger said, again poking fun at Carter. The fishing friends laughed heartily. When the laughter finally died down, it was Carter's turn to speak. "What Paul did,'' he said firmly, "was much appreciated I'll tell you that.'' Three other of the PGA TOUR's myriad fishing fanatics also chipped in with assistance according to Captain Mark Brockhoeft, another area fishing guide. Blaine McCallister, who is spending the 2006 season on the Nationwide Tour, Olin Browne and Mike Hulbert extended their generosity to him. Browne and Hulbert offered money, but McCallister, who fishes frequently with Brockhoeft, went above and beyond like Azinger did for Carter.
Brockhoeft suffered approximately $20,000 worth of damage to his home, but he managed to save his lifeblood, his boats. But he said his docket for the fall was completely booked and he had taken deposits from everyone who planned to fish with him. He had to return the money, putting him in a tenuous financial position. "I was as broke as the Ten Commandments and here were Blaine and Olin and Mike rolling out the red carpet for me,'' he said. "I'm crawling back now but I can't say enough about the helping hands they extended.'' Brockhoeft's voice cracked with emotion. "Those guys are like brothers to me,'' he said. Brockhoeft then took issue with the PGA TOUR's slogan in light of the kind-heartedness he experienced in the aftermath of Katrina. "Those guys aren't good,'' he said, laughing. "They're great.'' |
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