Azinger's Problems Behind Him

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. - Life on the PGA Tour, as good and bad as it gets.

A week ago in Phoenix, Paul Azinger was so frustrated with his driver that he snapped it in two.

``That's history; I'd rather not talk about it,'' he said. ``But if I did it, I should be ashamed of myself. If I didn't. . . .''

Yesterday, he tamed his emotions and the diabolical Pebble Beach golf course with masterful shots, hitting all but two fairways en route to a 67 and a four-stroke win in the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am tournament, a victory worth $198,000.

Azinger started the day knocking a 3-wood on the par-5 second hole to set up an eagle, and finished it with a birdie from two feet on the 17th. No one ever threatened him.

On a tour that is desperate for heroes, is Azinger finally ready to step forth? He ranked among the top four money winners three of the past four years, he has won seven events, he is second in the U.S. Ryder Cup point standings to Fred Couples, and he seems to have all the ability necessary to be a great player.

``I think I have the respect of the other players,'' Azinger said, ``but I don't think I strike fear in the hearts of a lot of people when they see my name on the leader board. There are some players who do that.''

Azinger seems strangely fragile for such a good player. He made nearly $1 million on tour the past two years, yet as the gallery swelled over the final nine holes yesterday, an amateur playing in his foursome seemed to attract more attention.

And he undersood why.

``Jack Wagner is such a good player,'' Azinger said, ``and I'd never even heard of the guy. I came to find out my mom is just crazy over him.''

Wagner is a 4-handicapper from Bel-Air Country Club who is more famous as Frisco Jones on the daytime soap opera ``General Hospital.'' He and his pro partner, John Cook, won the National Pro-Am by one stroke. Frisco hit some terrific shots down the stretch, including a par-saving pitch from behind a sand trap on No. 17.

``I remember walking home from school one day in a driving rain. I was soaking wet, and I asked my mom why she hadn't picked me up,'' Azinger said. ``She said, `Quiet, I'm watching ``General Hospital.'' ' ''

It is hard to believe that Azinger, who didn't have a bogey during two rounds at Pebble Beach and just one at Spyglass Hill, could have been playing so poorly and been so down on himself just a week ago.

``I'd gone through drivers - a Mizuno, a Cobra, a thing called a Pro, and a couple of others until I finally settled on a TaylorMade,'' he said. ``But the difference was the 15 minutes I spent with (teaching pro) Jim Flick.''

Flick took a look at one of Azinger's divots and began to change his swing path. In 15 minutes, Azinger was ``fixed.''

``I've always had a strong grip and I have to keep my knuckles up as I come through the ball. Everyone has told me that, but I needed to be reminded just one more time.''

Twice Azinger has represented the U.S. in Ryder Cup matches against Europe, a series the Americans have lost 0-2-1 since 1983.

``It is a very high priority for me and a lot of players to make the Ryder Cup,'' Azinger said. ``The opportunity to play for your country and bring the cup back is a big thing.''

But is Azinger tough enough mentally? Can he keep his game fixed? And what about Couples, who passed up this event? Sandy Lyle of Great Britain didn't.

Jack Nicklaus, who didn't make the cut here, didn't like the players complaining about the tough conditions on the Monterey Peninsula. Azinger was particularly critical of the new Poppy Hills course after shooting 73 Saturday.

``The European players learn to deal with different conditions, that's why they have been knocking us silly in the Ryder Cup,'' Nicklaus said. ``They play golf courses where they really have to have some imagination. Unfortunately, we don't have to have much imagination. Everything is perfect.''

Added Arnold Palmer, who also failed to make the cut, ``They need to make our courses tougher instead of making them perfect every week. We need a little variety. If things just aren't right, players get upset. When I started, the ball looked like a snowball sometimes rolling down the fairway, picking up mud and dirt. And we played it the way it was.''

To his credit, Azinger didn't give up on Pebble Beach, although he claims never to have broken 70 here after years of trying.

``I'm not teasing you,'' he said. ``Every year I play here I swear I'm never coming back. But it's just so beautiful . . . You just have to love Pebble Beach.''

During the week here, players were given the use of a car, free child-care, endless parties, free shoe shines at the Polo Club and $500 worth of prizes.

``The purses, the gifts, the lifestyle on the tour today . . . they're fantastic and we should be so grateful,'' Palmer said.

On the other hand, two-thirds of the pros didn't make the cut, and consequently didn't get paid. Greg Whisman, a 29-year-old rookie from Everett, struggled to a final-round 75 on Pebble Beach and won $2,499, estimated to be about break-even on the tour.

His wife and daughter spent the week at a motel in Monterey. A career of bills and putts. He had four putts yesterday that were in and out of the hole, the difference between $2,499 and $7,322 in purse money.

Life on the tour.