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.”
