What We Can Learn
Anyone who has ever played a round of golf knows the mental and emotional gymnastics that are involved. To perform well, a player needs to keep himself/herself composed and collected. If you let the bad breaks and mistakes get to you, it becomes incredibly difficult to focus on the task at hand. And without focus, the strokes will begin to add up.
And that is just in a regular round at the local muni after work as the sun is going down.
Now, amplify all of that. Imagine having to make good decisions and put good swings on the ball when there are millions of people watching and one of the most prestigous tournament titles in the world is on the line. Gets just a bit tougher doesn't it?
And so what was most amazing about the drama that unfolded Sunday afternoon in Augusta was the manner in which both players -- Chris DiMarco and Tiger Woods -- faced numerous instances where they could either mentally re-group or face certain defeat. That choice in and of itself is a bit disconcerting.
Without a doubt we should be in awe of how high and far and straight these two players can strike a golf ball into the air. But what is even more admirable is the manner in which they held their emotions in checkand maintained their composure under such strenuous and trying circumstances.
Yes, only one player can win, but both should receive vigorous applause.
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The Chip
It's a shot that will be replayed over and over for decades. If you haven't already seen it, where the hell have you been? you will surely have another chance, just turn on SportsCenter or The Golf Channel anytime in the next week or so.
And that is precisely the reason it was so much fun to watch. As soon as the ball took that last revolution to the bottom of the cup -- almost as if the throng of patrons willed it so -- you knew you had seen sports history.
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For More on the Masters:
- The Sand Trap: "A Win For the Changes"
- The Masters Official Website
- Graphics from the Augusta Chronicle via a great blog SportsDesigner, beginning on Thursday.
