Azinger stays busy as rookie

Toshiba Classic Notebook

NEWPORT BEACH — Paul Azinger has a great deal of duties occupying his mind this week at the 16th annual Toshiba Classic.

The 50-year-old, who captained the 2008 U.S. Ryder Cup team to an epic triumph, is under pressure to win in his second start on the Champions Tour (golfers 50 and over). He admitted to being a bit star-struck by the big names on the tour and here. Yet, overall, there was something more pressing on his mind Wednesday. It was the day his new book went to print.

Azinger has colloborated with author Steve Eubanks to produce, “Cracking the Code,” a behind-the-scenes look at the 2008 U.S. Ryder Cup team, to be released in May.

In addition to the his dealings with the players, Azinger also reveals in the book description of changing the selection process for the U.S. Ryder Cup team, saying it was, “the most important sales pitch of my life to get [PGA of America] to change what I thought was a system that was broken.”

The book, however, might impede success in his first year on the Champions Tour. He’s expecting dates for a book tour, so his rookie year may not all be what he wants.

In addition to his book, he is also involved with a golf-related iPhone app.

“I am going to be doing things that will probably cause me to play less than a full schedule this year,” said Azinger, a 12-time PGA Tour winner. “But I would hope that next year I can go full bore at it.

“I know that when you are 50, you should be out here, trying to capitalize on your youth and what have you. But, I just want to really enjoy it, embrace it. You never know. I’m not saying that I can’t play well enough to get into contention.”

*Azinger said he’s never been the same player since being diagnosed with lymphoma in his right shoulder, just after he won the PGA Championship in 1993. But he said he has no regrets. He talked about his career during an interview with the media before finishing tied for fourth in the Classic Pro-am.

“I had that seven-year stretch from ’87 to ’93 where I became, you know, a really solid consistently, high performing golfer,” he said. “But if I look back at my career, I just say wow. I think I was an overachiever. But I will never know what could have been, had I not gotten sick, you know. But I don’t look back. I’m glad I’m here.”

*Craig Stadler, a.k.a. the Walrus, won the pro-am with the quartet of Dean Burnett, Mark Edgington, Mike Kierdorf and Don Morton Wednesday.

Stadler has been dealing with a sore left hip. He expects to have hip-replacement surgery later in the year.

Pro-am action continues today.

*There will most likely be a large gallery for Fred Couples when he tees off in the first round of the Toshiba Classic Friday at Newport Beach Country Club.

His sweet swing and great play attracts many, but there are two more reasons to follow Couples.

Couples, along with Tom Watson and Mark O’Meara are scheduled to start from the first tee at 11:55 a.m. Watson continues to play well since nearly winning the British Open last year. O’Meara, also of The Open fame (1998 champion), finished tied for second in the Toshiba Classic last year.

*The Haney Project, featuring comedian Ray Romano, will be at Newport Beach Country Club today, according to The Daily Voice.

Romano and renowned teacher Hank Haney are scheduled to play with O’Meara and Toshiba executive Mark Simons. They’ll start playing at the 11th tee at 12:30 p.m. as part of the final day of Classic Pro-Am.