Holliday hosts golf tourney for Pujols' foundation
ST. LOUIS -- Matt Holliday doesn't want anything to do with playing golf at this point in his life.
"I just don't have time for it," the Cardinals' left fielder said. "I have four kids and enough frustration trying to hit a baseball."
But Holliday has no problem being the face of the Pujols Family Foundation Golf Tournament. He and his wife, Leslee, hosted the event for the third consecutive year Monday at Meadowbrook Country Club.
It's a tradition they've been happy to carry on since Albert Pujols, the tournament's namesake, signed with the Angels before the 2012 season. The Pujols Family Foundation meets the needs of families with children who have Down Syndrome, and the foundation is also active in the Dominican Republic.
"It's a great organization, and Albert's a great friend, and [Albert's wife and foundation president] Deidre," Holliday said. "They're great people and do great things, so it's easy for us."
Even after Sunday night's 4-1 win over the Cubs that concluded after midnight CT, Mark Reynolds, Lance Lynn and Adam Wainwright made it to the event -- though Reynolds was the only one of the three who participated as a golfer. Manager Mike Matheny and former manager Tony La Russa were also present.
"It's the easiest decision you make all year," said La Russa of his decision to attend.
"I remember when they [Albert and Deidre] were thinking about putting it together, and I said, 'Well, the idea is nice.' But really following through, they've been amazing," La Russa said.
Todd Perry, the foundation's executive director, was on hand Monday, and he took a moment to reflect on its humble beginnings out of his home in 2005 and how far it has come since then.
"The fact that Albert plays for another team, it's insignificant really to the mission of the foundation and the people we serve, the Down Syndrome community, the people who understand global poverty," Perry said. "The people who come out today understand that side of the mission. It's great that we do have baseball players, but it's not why we do what we do."