Life is like a Round of Golf

Life is like a round of golf
With many a turn and twist.
But the game is much too sweet and short
To curse the shots you’ve missed.

Sometimes you’ll hit it straight and far
Sometimes the putts roll true.
But each round has it’s errant shots
And troubles to play through.

So always swing with courage
No matter what the lie.
And never let the hazards
Destroy the joy inside.

And keep a song within your heart
Give thanks that you can play.
For the round is much too short and sweet
To let it slip away.

— Criswell Freeman

I’m on my way back from back surgery. Just wanted to say “hi” and let you know that I’m now also posting to the Shivas Irons Society blog at http://www.shivas.org, at the Sierra Golfer magazine website at http://www.sierragolfer.com as well as here.

Please stay tuned for an upcoming post about PGA & LPGA Tour golfers and Twitter. There’s a cool surprise “Twitter interview” with one of the most vivacious golfers on the LPGA that I think you’ll like.

I’m also posting this code 94442FFMPXB9 so that Technorati knows this is my blog.

As the golf world wonders “how he did it?” it seems clear to me that a big part of Y. E. Yang’s completely unexpected victory at the PGA Championship was his inner game. Almost any golfer would have been captured and lost in all of that drama. In fact, as CBS Sports Mobile reported, when you consider what happened the last 14 golf majors where Tiger Woods had the lead going into the final round… “Somehow, Yang got it done while all others — from every strata of the game — had failed.” Everyone thought that Tiger on Sunday with the lead was unbeatable.

While Tiger failed to do his usual miracle of “making something happen,” Yang played within himself, hitting shot after shot, playing his own game, rising above the hoopla.

The clearest quote from Yang (via translator of course) that I found explaining his inner or mental game approach was on the CBS Sports Mobile application that I read on my iPhone. After revealing his deep love for the game of golf, Yang explained, “I guess the fearlessness comes from the fact that I know that I am doing my dream job. And I also have this mentality where I try my best and leave no regrets. If it doesn’t work out, then that’s that. I leave no regrets. So I guess if I do have courage, that’s where it comes from.”

So simply said and unquestionably authentic, yet something that even Tiger can’t actually do. Clearly, he has lots of regrets about Sunday.

I find it inspiring and I sincerely believe that Yang deserves the PGA Championship because he is someone who plays golf at the highest level, but he plays it with an authentic freedom that, for example, let him stand up and “just hit the ball” on the 72nd hole of a major.

Wow. Now that’s impressive!

Boy, wasn’t that something special? I loved this following sincere salute from the winner to what has to be one of the most impressive runner-up finishers in history:

“I’m proud of the way Tom Watson played,” Cink said. “Not only did he show how great a golfer he is, but he showed what a great game we all play.”

Yes, indeed! Watson really did shine his unique light on what a great game we all play. He walked his talk and swung his authentic swing. Nothing more or less.

For me, Tom Watson played golf in The Open Championship (a.k.a. The British Open) with more spirit, ease and grace than I have ever seen at a golf major. Of course, his accomplishment in almost winning at almost 60 years old was amongst the greatest achievements in golf ever. But, combined with the sheer beauty of Turnberry (image by Katie Dawkins), he demonstrated what golf in the zone of ease is all about.

The fellow who won is the fellow that I follow on Twitter, @stewartcink or just Stewart Cink to the rest of you. He deserves much credit, even if it was in the role of “spoiler.” Cink sunk that wonderful birdie putt on the 72nd hole despite Paul Azinger’s attempt at an announcer’s curse as he said something like, these are the kinds of putts where you find out how much heart you have. “Let’s see what you’ve got, Stewart.” And Stewart nailed it.

And then there was Tiger showing us his shadow side. I’m not talking about his performance, but rather his petulance. There’s no excuse for throwing clubs, particularly for someone who is a real role model for so many people. I appreciated this post from The Average Golfer blog: Tiger Woods Needs a Lesson from Tom Watson.

But nothing could spoil the specialness of how Tom Watson played golf over those four days. Sure, it broke my heart that he missed the putt to win. I was literally shocked. But we’ve all done that. I guess it’s just part of the game. So, I’ll just let that be yet another lesson to me.

Thanks, Tom. Thanks, Stewart. And THANK YOU, GOLF!

——

Addendum1: More on Tom Watson from Tom Friedman in the NYTimes: 59 is the New 30. Great stuff.

Addendum2: More on Tiger Woods mis-behavior from Rick Reilly writing on ESPN.com: Tiger Woods Needs to Clean Up His Act

David Feherty admits himself at the end of this short video clip that he might be a better teacher than he realized. Personally, I’ve rarely heard anyone explain so succinctly—and in an experiential way—the relationship between the practice golf swing and the real golf swing. And somehow, at the same time, David also illuminates how this relates to both not being attached to the results, as well as to staying in the moment. Perhaps this quote says it all:

“I’ve never heard anyone curse after their practice swing.”

Enjoy!

Angel Cabrera, Masters Champion

Like a lot of Americans, especially those of us older than 48, I would have liked to have seen Kenny Perry win the Masters. And sure, it would have been fun to have had either Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson make a real run…

But that said, I think Angel Cabrera won the Masters by showing the power of his inner game; and in his case, this was simply illustrated by the way he just played his own game and stayed within himself, especially under the extreme pressure of the Masters and the tournament’s final holes.

The others, including Kenny Perry, clearly melted down in the stretch. I don’t think that the way they lost the Masters can be attributed to anything other than a lack of inner game strength. What else could have caused Kenny Perry to bogie the last two holes after playing so magnificently? And likewise, what else but the pressure could have caused Chad Campbell to hit what was probably his worst shot of the day and make a bogie on the first playoff hole? They all had the talent and they all had performed at the highest level up until the apex of what must be the most extraordinary pressure to perform that can be found anywhere.

And believe me, I’m not putting any of them down. I get nervous on the first tee when my matches mean nothing, and their performance in the tournament that means the most defines their careers. Just the same, I think it’s worth noting that the real difference, bottom line, net net, was how they performed when those big-assed, major Masters “chips” were down. Obviously, especially given the unique qualities of each of their swings, it was not about their swing mechanics! The winner was the one who was most comfortable in his own skin regardless of the power of the spotlight.

Congratulations to you, Angel. You’ve got what it takes.

He has an inner game like none other.

After returning to the winner’s circle again, Tiger Woods said, “You just remember how to do it… It hasn’t been that long for me, but you just have that feel of what to do. And it’s a matter of getting it done.” But how many of us have had that feeling? I know that very few of us have gotten “it done” at that level.

He made three clutch putts down the stretch, all in the 15 foot range (one to save par from a very difficult buried sand lie and two birdies), including of course the almost traditional birdie on the 72nd hole to win by one.

I watched as he put his focus into another gear, invoking some kind of belief (I think), and then he just executes these clutch putts like no one else. As Johnny Miller commented on NBC, “He’s the greatest clutch putter that ever lived.” It is certainly an astounding talent that he possesses, but something that he has also learned and cultivated with experience and very high intentions.

Is he blessed with talent? No doubt. But he also works at it and has lived it.

Just my 2 cents.

Congrats, Tiger.

Click to read report from the NYTimes