DEFENDING champion Luke List will use this week’s True South Classic to raise money for disaster relief in his adopted home town of Augusta.
Large parts of the south-east of the United States have been devastated by Hurricane Helene and List’s house was among the thousands left with no power or water.
He and fellow Augusta resident Henrik Norlander have pledged to donate $500 (£375) to their local Red Cross for each birdie they make at The Country Club of Jackson.
“On my level I feel for all the people in Florida and South Carolina and North Carolina, but directly the people of the CSRA [Central Savannah River Area] in Augusta where I live,” List said in his pre-tournament press conference.
“It’s pretty devastating really to not only see it but experience it, a place you call home. It’s really sad. My thoughts are directly with all the people I call friends and family at home and hoping everybody stays safe still.
“Obviously when you have young children, just keeping them safe and out of harm’s way is the biggest priority, so I think we were on the same page as far as we need to give back in any way we can.”
Before travelling to Mississippi earlier than planned due to the hurricane, List revealed he had to help cut five downed trees to clear a street in his neighbourhood.
“That’s humbling in its own right, just tugging trees,” the 39-year-old added.
“My neighbour had a Jeep and we were pulling big logs from the trees off the road and just doing the best we could to band together, and getting a tree off a neighbour’s yard, and that’s everybody.
“Everyone is dealing with that in their own right. In a sense it was great to see everybody come together, but in a sense it almost felt like that’s what you have to do in that moment.”
List, who won his second PGA Tour title in a five-man play-off 12 months ago, has missed the cut in nine of his last 10 starts but hopes a seven-week lay-off to rehab a herniated disk in his neck will help him get back to his best.
“I come in here maybe not in good form, but I’ve rested mentally and hopefully am stronger physically,” he said.
