I really do love golf. Many people think it’s slow and boring but I appreciate the skill and nuance of the players paired with the majestic beauty of the many different courses. I also enjoy the discipline and dignity that is built into the rules of the game. Each round carries great challenges to men and women who are held to higher standards of personal conduct than most other sports. The combination of skill and sportsmanship has created some of sports greatest heroes, both on and off the course.
This past weekend was The Masters; the annual trip through the pristine greens of Augusta National Golf Club, on a course created by the great Bobby Jones. Talk during the start of the week centered on Tiger Woods and his return to competitive golf after his much publicized mess of personal indiscretions. Every other story seemed to lag behind discussion of “what if’s” about Tiger and all the tawdry details of his embarrassing behavior.
One story that definitely fell behind was that of the new Masters Champ Phil Mickelson. At 39 years old, he’s one of this era’s most admired and successful golfers. He’d won The Masters twice before and seemed more focused than ever to collect another Green Jacket. While we witnessed the onslaught of birdies and eagles he was throwing at Augusta’s greens during his victory, we were reminded of Phil’s real-life story.
His wife Amy has been battling breast cancer during the past year and for the first time since her treatment began, she was able to join him at a tournament. Also during this same year, Phil’s mother discovered she had breast cancer and has been undergoing her own treatment. Needless to say, Phil’s entire family has spent the past year under a mountain of fear and stress dealing with both illnesses.
Throughout their ordeal, golf seemed trivial at times, but this weekend brought out the fierce determination that made Phil Mickelson the champion he is. Saying he rose to the occasion would be an understatement. The events of the past year coupled with Amy and their kids first appearance on tour, primed Phil’s focus and preparation so that he was able to put together one of the best tournaments of his career. But as he stated himself, the “golf” part of the weekend wasn’t as important as what it meant for him and his family. It was a triumph, not just over the golf course, but for a family over pain and hardship. This weekend was more about life than golf.
Phil Mickelson rose to the level of champion because his work had meaning. He has great skills and he’s won this tournament before – but this time it was about something. Something larger than himself that goes to the core of his being. For those four days in Augusta, he conquered a force that had drained a lot of energy from him and his family. Drawing on the power of faith and family, he stared down the fear of missing right or left and stayed centered on his mission. His victory showed one more time that the power of the human spirit, when driven by selflessness and love, is the greatest power on the planet. I’d say it’d give gravity a run for its money!
Having a hard time getting motivated? Maybe being motivated doesn’t mean enough to you – yet. You can be the champion you dream about. Raise the stakes and find the highest meaning behind what’s important to you. And don’t just think about yourself. It could be the highest meaning you’re looking for isn’t about you. The power you’re looking for is in there – you just might have hooked it into the rough and have to go find it.
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