Waimea

There was a good deal of concern about the PGA Tour playing in New Orleans last week. Some wondered if it was such a good idea, a bunch of high-paid golfers showing up and leaving town with a lot of cash. Maybe that wouldn’t be sending the right message.
But it was the PGA Tour’s belief that staging the event would be good for the area that was hammered by Hurricane Katrina last August. Proceeds from the tournament would be going to charity. And many players pledged support.

David Toms and Hal Sutton raised money through their foundations for hurricane relief. Kelly Gibson, the only PGA Tour player from New Orleans, started his own foundation.

And then there was Masters champion Phil Mickelson, who had donated $250,000 last fall through the U.S. Golf Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund and immediately pledged to play in the tournament. When he arrived last week, Mickelson said he would donate all of his prize money. When he tied for 15th and made some $81,000, he didn’t feel that was enough. He reached into his pocket to make it an even $250,000 — then lamented the fact that he did not win, which would have meant more than $1-million.

Mickelson also said that he would be picking a tournament every year from which to donate his prize money back to New Orleans.