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By Dave Lagarde
PGATOUR.com Correspondent

AVONDALE, La. -- They are gone now, for another year, this band of traveling gypsies in Softspikes. But what they did for New Orleans last week will not go unnoticed in the Crescent City.

Tim Petrovic won in New Orleans in 2005, just before Hurricane Katrina ravaged the city (WireImage)

CIVIC PRIDE

Though still in the infancy of its recovery from the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina, TPC Louisiana returned to host the Zurich Classic of New Orleans and perhaps no PGA TOUR player was happier than Tim Petrovic.  • Complete story,  click here

The PGA TOUR's presence at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans pumped approximately $25 million into an extremely needy city's economy. That's precious money which can help speed the recovery of an area still suffering dearly from the after effects of the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina, a deadly storm that caused a number of breaches in the city's levee system that killed more than 1,000 residents and flooded approximately 80 percent of the low-lying city.

It's almost 20 months after the fact, yet many of the neighborhoods struck hardest by the flood remain either basically abandoned or sparsely populated as residents struggle as frustration mounts with the pace of rebuilding homes, businesses and infrastructure.

So any aid is good aid.

"It has been almost two years since the storm but I'm sure it must feel like 20 to the people here,'' said Tim Petrovic, who won the Zurich Classic in 2005, five months before Katrina became an unwelcome and uninvited guest. "People really don't realize the extent of the damage. You have to come here and see it to understand. It is still there.''

Another benefit is the far-reaching coverage the tournament receives from The Golf Channel and CBS. It keeps New Orleans and its on-going plight in the world's consciousness in the new split-second information age.

"If you step back and take a hard look at it, you understand why we're have so many difficulties and why things are taking so long,'' said veteran PGA TOUR member Kelly Gibson, a native who is New Orleans through and through. "Katrina was an unprecedented event. There wasn't a person here who wasn't affected. Many had damaged or flooded property. Many lost their entire neighborhoods and social circles. And a lot of people lost their jobs. It has been extremely hard on everyone here.''

There was a poignant moment in March of 2006 when Gibson, who had gone above and beyond the call of duty in the days, weeks and months following the devastation wrought in south Louisiana by Hurricane Katrina, made a vow that he keeps today.

"When all this stuff wears off we're still going to be here,'' Gibson said. "I want to participate 100 percent in the reconstruction of the city I love.''

Gibson, through his Feed the Relief Foundation, has continued to roll up his sleeves and pitch in for the love of New Orleans. His non-profit foundation has raised more than $1 million and he doles out each and every penny that passes through its coffers, mainly in an effort to those who helped New Orleans slough through its darkest hours in the days, weeks and months following Katrina's deadly strike.

Gibson recently made sizeable donations the Slidell, La., Police Department and the St. Tammany Parish Fire Department. Jefferson Parish emergency services and the New Orleans Police Department are next in line.

Gibson isn't the Lone Ranger on the PGA TOUR when it comes to aid. David Toms and Hal Sutton, a pair of Louisiana natives, rushed to help in the aftermath. The trio of native sons was honored for their charitable work by the Golf Writers Association of America in 2006. They received the Charles Bartlett Award for raising more than $2.5 million for hurricane relief.

While Sutton has turned his philanthropic attention to the construction of a Children's Hospital in his hometown of Shreveport, Toms continues to be involved in the rescue of New Orleans.

"I plan to continue doing whatever I can,'' Toms said this week. "The spirit of the city lives in so many of us.''

Phil Mickelson is another TOUR member who has been extremely generous to New Orleans. He wrote a check for $250,000 to New Orleans from the Phil and Amy Mickelson Foundation days after the storm struck. He wrote a check for the same amount in 2006 and again in 2007despite the fact that his schedule prevented him from competing in New Orleans.

"Amy and I are thankful to be able to continue our contribution to the reconstruction of New Orleans,'' he said this week. "We're proud to be a part of the efforts by a lot of hardworking partners.''

Mark Calcavecchia returned to New Orleans in 2006 after a lengthy absence. He re-discovered the city's charm, its soul and its world-class restaurants. He and his wife Brenda had an absolutely fabulous time, so good, he said, that New Orleans will become a permanent stop on his annual schedule.

"This is one of the best cities in the country and it needs our help,'' Calc said. "I'm happy to be doing my part, however small and I will play here every year they'll have me back.''

That is music to New Orleans' ears.