Firestone's Paul Lazoran, whose co-workers and employers call a legend in his own right, has seen all the great golfers.
Paul Lazoran has seen all of golf's greats from the vantage point of Firestone's locker room head attendant -- and as a caddie in years gone by. Retiring this fall, Lazoran learned of the respect he's gained from the pros in a presentation at the club.AKRON, Ohio -- He has walked with kings.
Legends have walked the locker room at Firestone Country Club, from Sam Snead to Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus to Gary Player, Lee Trevino to Tom Watson.
Paul Lazoran, whose co-workers and employers call a legend in his own right, has seen them all.
Lazoran, 68, will retire in October, so the World Golf Championship-Bridgestone Invitational, which gets underway today on the famed South Course, will be his last, ending a 59-year association with the club. The tournament and the locker room will never be the same.
Lazoran caddied for Player when he won the 1965 World Series of Golf and was on the bags when Al Geiberger and Dave Stockton won the old CBS Golf Classic.
He walked alongside Palmer and Nicklaus, Billy Casper, Tommy Bolt and the late Bobby Nichols. He watched as his brother, Mike, barely moved while shagging ball after ball off the clubs of Ben Hogan.
The universally-liked Lazoran has entertained more celebrities than you'll find on a red carpet, guiding the likes of singers Glen Campbell, John Denver and Bobby Rydell, daredevil Evel Knievel and comedian Foster Brooks around the course.
As the pros arrived in the locker room earlier this week they greeted him like a favorite pal.
Lazoran began working at the club in 1951 at the age of nine, cleaning members' clubs for $2 a day.
"Hey, if I could make 10 or 12 bucks a week that was a lot of money for a 9-year-old back then," he said.
Over the years he worked as a caddie, spent time in the pro shop, gave lessons as an assistant pro and made his way to the locker room 30 years ago. He has worked every professional event at Firestone, starting with the 1954 Rubber City Open.
"It's been a great ride," said Lazoran, who at one time was a scratch player and now plays to a 7 handicap. "I have met some great people here. And, I have been lucky enough to work with great people."
He holds most of today's Tour players in high regard, but has a special place for Nick Price, Phil Mickelson, Darren Clarke, Boo Weekley and Lee Westwood.
The players, in turn, hold Lazoran in high regard. On Wednesday, Mike Weir presented him with two plane tickets, hotel accommodations and daily tickets to The Players Championship in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. next May.
Firestone General Manager Mark Gore said, "Paulie is an institution. He is Firestone Country Club and represents what it's all about ... first-class service. He is one of the most generous people I've ever met."
And, one of the most genuine.