“The Masters”

A couple of weekends ago, just like 10.2 million other golf fans, you would have found me glued to the TV, watching the Masters Golf Tournament.  For our non-golf followers – The Masters Tournament (usually referred to as simply The Masters) is one of the four major championships in professional golf. Scheduled for the first full week of April, the Masters is the first major of the year, and unlike the others, it is always held at the same location, Augusta National Golf Club  in the city of Augusta, Georgia.

I will admit that my major motivation to watch the Masters was to see Tiger Woods make his triumphant return to golf.  And the reception he received on the first tee was the most emotional I have ever seen.

I watch professional golf to see incredible performances on the golf course.  As a fan who plays golf, I can see there is so much more to the most basic of swings…that each effort is either a beauty to behold or a catastrophe to gawk at (my own swing being that of the latter!).  It is hard for me to put into words how breathtaking it is to see the brilliance of a pro golfer making a shot that seems impossible to make.

I enjoy watching golf because there are 18 different holes to watch as compared to watching one field or course as in other sports.  I chuckle when I think about how before I started to play golf I didn’t like watching golf on TV.  It seemed so boring and lacklustre – I didn’t understand the drama and intricacies of the game. 

Then I started playing and my entire perspective changed!

I began to see that golf is one of the few sports where an average person can compete and attempt the same feats as the pros.

I mean come on – I will never face down a fastball in Yankee Stadium, or try to kick a field goal at Soldier Field.  But, I can play the 18th hole at Pebble Beach, or try to land one on the green at TPC Sawgrass, or even go play Amen Corner at Augusta (ok…that one is a stretch but you see where I am going with this). 

Nevertheless, I’m a total nobody and I can list a long number of courses I’ve played, both public and private, that have hosted PGA events including majors.

I recently read that researchers say watching professional golfers while they play a round can improve my own game.  To think I can perfect my swing on the green just by watching pro-golfers putt brings a smile to my face!  

Watching golf, knowing the state of golf, having a favorite player, and so on, is all part of it….AND…..watching golf movies is part of it too, who doesn’t love a well-timed Caddyshack quote?!

Of course this would apply to any sport – not just golf.  Which had me wondering what do remarkable athletes show and tell me about life?  What lessons can I learn?

While I am sure there are plenty of lessons, here are 4 that are high on my list.

• Talent is a gift. But without hard work, it is meaningless.  No doubt talent helps you on the way, but without hard work, you will simply be out worked.  So whether you have talent or not, you will always need to work hard.

• Believe in yourself and become your biggest fan.  When you believe in yourself, you can overcome self-doubt and have the confidence to take action and get things done.

• Don’t measure your success by comparing it to that of others.  You can control one life – yours!  But when you constantly compare yourself to others, you waste precious energy focusing on other peoples’ lives rather than your own. 

• Your successes are not your own. Along the way, others have supported you, don’t forget that. 

There is no doubt about it – athletes are a special breed – regardless of the sport they play.  They represent courage, commitment, belief in selves, and amazing sacrifices.

Many times, they truly defy odds!

Whether it’s a modest upbringing, a career-threatening injury, or a classic underdog scenario, athletes are out to prove skeptics wrong.  Fueled by non-believers, they possess the ability to overcome adversity like no other.  Where others see fear, they see symbolism of what they want, and go for it!  They do remarkable things! 

My Read from the Reds:  I believe we all have the potential to do remarkable things!

Fairways and Greens – We are 18 Holes and Counting.

Written by Kathy Festa