On the TunneySide of Sports June 24, 2019, #749 Recognizing the Champion
After further review… The closing comments from the players in the USGA’s 119th Open held at Pebble Beach golf course were of championship caliber. The winner was Gary Woodland, a former University of Kansas Jayhawk, who birded the 18th and final hole of the tournament. If you’ve played golf and birdied your final hole, you walk away with a positive feeling – no matter your final score. Woodland had a great 4-day score of 271 well below the usual 280. He was not on most “experts” list to win. With so many great golfers on the pro-circuit today predicting an eventual winner is a daunting task.
Brooks Koepka was a favorite attempting to win three consecutive U.S. Opens, which is more than can be expected even for the G.O.A.T.s who have played this challenging game. Koepka, who looks like he could be a tight end, said afterward that he played as well as he could, but “Woodland just played better.” Ya gotta appreciate that positive attitude while giving recognition to the winner. It takes nothing away from Koepka. One should always strive to give his/her best effort but “stand by the side and cheer as the winners go by” – the closing line of “Prayer of a Sportsman” which my dad often recited to me.
Speaking of dad, Koepka said in an interview after the tournament that his dad was “always hard on me – expecting me to do my best every time.” Brooks said he never regretted that. Woodland said similarly by thanking his dad for “his guidance and confidence” throughout his life. Note the pairing of those two characteristics – guidance and confidence. It is the hope – and message here – that our young athletes today appreciate a stern approach given with support in building their confidence.
“Sometimes it wasn’t meant to be,” said Koepka and followed with “I gave it my all every time, every shot. I played every shot I wanted to.” He lost-out being a three-time U.S. Open champion, yet he praised Woodland with “my hat’s off to him.” That’s a true champion.
Will you give your best effort every time, yet pay recognition to your competitors?
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