Azinger just chipping in for a friend
Azinger hosts clinic in support of state House hopeful
By JOHN LEMBO – jlembo@bradenton.com -Bradenton Herald
BRADENTON — Keep it simple. Keep it fun.
Such were Paul Azinger’s goals Monday afternoon at Bradenton Country Club, where the Bradenton resident ran an informal 30-minute clinic prior to the start of a benefit tournament for Jim Boyd’s Florida House Dist. 68 campaign.
District 68 covers Manatee and Hillsborough counties. Boyd is running in 2010.
With approximately 40 golfers around him, Azinger talked about the golf swing, about how important it is to keep your body a minimum of 6 inches away from the ball to the right and 14 inches on the left.
Then he hit. Whether using a driver or wedge, Azinger’s tee shots stayed straight and flew out of sight, which came as a pleasant surprise to the golfer himself.
“I haven’t hit in about a month,” he said.
Azinger, however, was there to support Boyd, his friend for nearly 30 years.
“I would like to see him win,” Azinger said after posing for pictures with golfers near the first hole, “and represent our district.”
Azinger captained the U.S. team during the 2008 Ryder Cup and said he felt a strong sense of opportunity as well a measure of responsibility — a responsibility to the players, to the American public and most of all, himself.
So he shook up the selection process, learned the finer points of being a leader and helped the United States defeat the Europeans for the first time since 1999.
“You have a responsibility to yourself, and I know you can do it,” Azinger told Boyd, who was in attendance Monday. “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t.”
It was Boyd who asked Azinger for help with the tournament. And thanks to his famous friend’s cameo, Boyd said the field for the tournament was pretty full.
“He’s a great guy,” Boyd said. “Our kids grew up together at church.”
Decked out in a white collared shirt, cargo shorts and a pair of sunglasses, Azinger kept the clinic light and breezy. Golfers were free to answer questions whenever they wanted — they asked him about when he was playing again (“Soon,” he responded) as well as Charles Barkley’s swing.
“I try to make it simplistic, reasonably enjoyable and I try to educate,” said Azinger, who didn’t play in the tournament. “It wasn’t about gripping the club or anything like that — just the simple fundamentals. That’s what I was trying to get across.”
A member at Bradenton Country Club, Azinger knew the faces clustered around him.
“I love it,” he said. “I’m at ease.”
Mostly, however, he was there to support Boyd. And if Boyd is elected, Azinger hinted at maybe taking his spot when his friend’s term expires.
“Maybe,” he said with a laugh.
