Azinger Swing Leaves PGA Asking Questions
Azinger Swing Leaves PGA Asking Questions Golf Star Ditches the Links for Poker
Big-name golfer Paul Azinger was still holding clubs, but it was far different than what golf fans are used to seeing. Azinger, who is 115th on the PGA Tour money list in 2006 with $516,657 in earnings, raised eyebrows with his sudden withdrawal from the U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee. After telling alternate Dicky Pride, who took his place in the field, that he was leaving the tournament because his father was undergoing surgery, Azinger later played in the World Series of Poker that same weekend.
PGA Tour policy requires a player who withdraws from a tournament after the commitment deadline to provide a written reason for the withdrawal, or be the subject of disciplinary action.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel asked PGA Tour vice president and COO Henry Hughes to comment on improper withdrawals.
"It's considered something we look strongly at and we make sure it doesn't happen unless there is an explanation," Hughes said. "We try and protect our tournaments that way. The player has two weeks to respond as to why they had an improper withdrawal or late withdrawal."
"To play in a poker tournament would be viewed as improper."
Dan Croak, the tournament director for the U.S. Bank Championship, got no word from Azinger prior to his departure.
"Some guys call me," Croak said. For example, Olin Browne called me and Justin Leonard called me directly when they pulled out. In this case, Paul did not.
Playing for PokerStars, and seated at table 86, Azinger was somewhat awestruck prior to the start of WSOP play.
"It's pretty intimidating," he said. "I'm intimidated. I just have to look at it as, I'm going to try to win my table, not the entire tournament."
For the record, he held his own and lasted 14 hours, winning a few hands and folding a lot more. At the 10-hour mark, he had a chip count of about 15,000.
He claims the withdrawal from the golf tourney was due to his father's illness and surgery, but that the surgery was postponed. Since he couldn't return to Milwaukee, he found his way to Las Vegas.
Azinger joined Team PokerStars way back in July of 2006, weeks before the tournament. He is the first pro athlete to join up, and he'll wear PokerStars logos on the felt and the links.
"I've always loved poker and have played online for years now," zinger said in a PokerStars press release announcing the signing. "Like golf, poker requires incredible patience and killer strategy. The WSOP is the Masters of poker, and I can't wait to go up against the pros."
Asked if he would have missed the subsequent Buick Open, which he played in, had he not been eliminated at the WSOP, Azinger didn't mince words.
"For a shot at $11.8 million? You're darn right I would have dropped out," he said. He missed the cut at the Buick Open, shooting a 71 and a 72.
A golf analyst for ABC-TV, Azinger has made 12 cuts in 20 events this season. His highest finish is tenth at the Memorial. He won the 1993 PGA Championship his best win so far.