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NORTON — When the devastating rains of Hurricane Harvey came to Houston last week, PGA Tour player Chris Stroud was in New York, having just missed the cut at the Northern Trust Open.
Stroud, who won the Barracuda Championship in early August, considered trying to go home to Houston to be with his family, but there were no flights going there, and he and his wife decided he should head to New England and play golf.
Stroud’s home became a neighborhood beacon. As Stroud explained Wednesday on a practice day before the Dell Technologies Championship, he lives 20 miles north of Houston in Spring, and though there was 4 feet of water in the neighborhood, his house is one of the highest in the neighborhood and was not flooded.
Others in the neighborhood were, and some 20-25 people, both family and friends, gathered at his house for shelter. Stroud’s family also has a generator, and was able to keep the refrigerator stocked with food. He is the owner of a “show truck,’’ a vehicle jacked up 5 feet off the ground, which was invaluable for moving through flooded streets to rescue people and get supplies.
There was no Internet at the house, so his family had to drive out of the neighborhood to get cell reception and then call him back in the Northeast for updates.
“It’s just very sad,’’ said Stroud. “It was Sunday night where it really got scary; there was lightning, flood, tornado threats, there was a tornado that hit in my neighborhood. Just really scary.
“It was scary for me just sitting here. My heart’s somewhere else and I’m supposed to be getting ready for golf. Just makes you realize what’s most important in your life is your family and friends.’’
Stroud pledged $10,000 and 10 percent of his earnings this week to the relief efforts. The PGA Tour pledged $250,000 to the Red Cross.
“Our thoughts are with all of those impacted by this terrible storm and flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey,’’ said PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan. “We hope our collective efforts help bring comfort and aid to the victims and that it will spur our players, tournaments and fans to join the cause and help out.’’
Kiosks will be set up at the Fan Experience site at TPC Boston, where fans can make donations.
Stroud wore a Houston Astros cap in deference to his friend Jim Crane, the team owner, but as an aside, he acknowledged being a huge Patriots fan.
“I don’t know how you can’t be,’’ he said. “Tom Brady’s one of the greatest legends ever.
Homecoming week
Speaking of Boston sports fans, New England native Keegan Bradley is back at the Dell, after missing the 100-player cut in 2016.
The 31-year-old, who grew up in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts (he graduated from Hopkinton High), comes to Boston on the heels of another successful edition of his charity tournament Monday in Woodstock Vt., to benefit the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation.
“It went great,’’ he said.
Bradley, the 2011 PGA champion, struggled in 2016, but has been climbing back to form. After last week’s Northern Trust Open, in which he finished tied for 43d, he is ranked 47th in FedEx Cup points. The puts him safely inside the top 100 who qualify to play the Dell, the second of the four FedEx events. He said it was great to be back.
“I love being in New England,’’ Bradley said. “I love coming home and playing. It’s fun for me and my family. I want to come here every year; we love it here.’’
On the board
When they registered for the tournament, players received a gift from Dell: a skateboard. Dell, which handed out guitars at the Dell Technologies Match Play in Austin, chose skateboards because they are made of recycled plastic and Dell is making a big push for sustainability. Sergio Garcia was spotted leaving the clubhouse with one slung over his shoulder, though none were seen in use on the cart paths at TPC Boston. Maybe after the golf . . . If you’re headed to Norton Thursday for the pro-am, Dustin Johnson and Jordan Spieth both tee off at 6:50 a.m. Justin Thomas and Jon Rahm go at 7 a.m., and Bradley and Bubba Watson start at 7:10. Late risers can catch Phil Mickelson at 12:20 p.m., and defending champion Rory McIlroy at 1:50.
