Like ice, Rocco Mediate knocked in a four footer to win his first tournament in eight years the other day. At 47, he faced down the youngsters on his tail and won. He lost his lead but never gave up, and as the weather dried and warmed a bit, he found new life and there was the Rocco of 2008 standing up to Tiger Woods for 91 holes in the U.S. Open. Amazingly, he had an eagle everyday of this tournament, including a hole in one. In this end of season tournament, Rocco was Rocco: joking, smiling, kibitzing with the crowd and his fellow players, even as the pressure mounted, even as his PGA Tour livelihood was on the line until he could slip into the Champions Tour. Rocco may not have an Adonis body or a picture perfect swing. Rocco may look like the guy at the deli selling pastrami behind the counter. But Rocco Mediate is a real human being. Roc is good for golf. And we can all learn from him.
Like ice, Beatriz Recari knocked in a three footer to win her first tournament, as a rookie, on the LPGA Tour. At 24, the Spaniard faced down the veterans on her tail and won. She went from three up to only one up with two holes to play but showed true grit and the confidence of a winner and won. And as the pressure built, she even playfully stuck her tongue out at the cameraman, showing poise and humor in the middle of a potboiler. A young woman of great beauty, she showed maturity and a wonderful personality after her win. Beatriz Recari has a technically solid swing, will be around for a long time, and will win many tournaments, including majors, I predict. Beatriz may look like she belongs on the cover of SI’s swimsuit issue. But Beatriz Recari is a real human being. Beatriz is good for golf and especially good for the LPGA.
What can we learn from Beatriz and Rocco? We can learn that there is a place for passion in this game, for determination, for concentration under fire, and for true grit. Though most of us are not competitors, we can learn that goals can keep us focused, especially after wayward shots or three putt greens or lousy front nines. When we feel down, we can rededicate ourselves to doing better, to having faith that things could turn around, that 50-foot birdie putts could drop, and that breaking whatever score you want to break is still possible, no matter what your age or condition.
It just takes staying loose and light, focused and forgiving, and learning to make increasingly solid contact with that little white pill that sits with such stillness before us.
I have a problem with the overall premise of your article but I still think its really informative. I really like your other posts. Keep up the great work. If you can add more video and pictures can be much better. Because they help much clear understanding. š thanks Edna.
Thank you, Edna. Glad you find the blog informative. Hope you continue reading and commenting on it.
I must say your blog is the first I’ve come across this morning that doesn’t have spelling errors in every sentence. Thanks for taking the time to write something a 5th grader wrote. I apologize, just had to vent.
Thank you, John. I’m trying to do my bit to maintain the integrity of the English language.