The Land of Oz: One Masters Champion and One Catholic Saint

Only one Australian golfer has won The Masters. Although Greg Norman (and Nick Price) share the low course record with an impressive 63, "the Great White Shark" failed to capture the green jacket. His performance is unfortunately, quite memorable. As written in USA Today (April 1996), "Greg Norman shot a startling 78 Sunday in the greatest collapse in Masters history, giving Nick Faldo his third green jacket and sixth major championship."

Australia had provided nine Masters runners-up but not a single winner before 2013. That is until Adam Scott made history for himself and his countrymen. No wonder he screamed "C'mon Aussies!" when he nailed a 20-foot birdie on the 18th hole of regulation to tie for the lead. Two shots later, he defeated Angel Cabrera in a sudden death playoff to win the 77th Masters.

And much to my surprise, Australia has but one Catholic saint. Earlier this week, one of my students who hails from Down Under taught his classmates about her: St. Mary of MacKillop. He wanted us to know about her legacy, her ministry and that they are both from Western Australia. He was proud of their shared faith and homeland, so proud, they we were convinced his accent was louder and prouder than usual. He denied it, adding that his fellow countrymen don't all listen to AC/DC or Men at Work, but they do use words like "mate" and "cheers." Less than 12 hours later, I caught an interview with Adam Scott on the Golf Channel. He concluded the conversation by saying...wait for it..."thanks, mate. Cheers." That was fun to see. 

Australians' authentic and deep love for their country has always inspired and intrigued me. My student has taught me it's not a blind love; he admits there is a collective recognition that social problems abound: intense racism, sexism and xenophobia. And yet the Land of Oz is home—it's motherland, it's a work in progress, warts, accents and all.

Three Aussies have made the final cut for the 2016 Masters: Adam Scott, Jason Day and Cameron Smith. At this point Day, who lives in the US but refuses to renounce his citizenship, is the only one in contention (he is 3 off the leader, Jordan Spieth). Perhaps he should call upon on the intercession of St. Mary of Mackillop; her prayer is a beautiful one. Or at the very least, should he sink a long put for birdie, yell "C'mon Aussies!" If and when he does, I'll raise my $2.00 cup of beer (no joke...more on that to come) and say "Cheers, mate."

Photo Credits
Adam Scott

The 2015 PGA Championship: 3 Lessons from 3 Champions

The 2015 PGA Championship is bittersweet. The final major golf championship of the year, I know it signifies the end of summer. School will start next week and golf—a sport that can be played year-round in many parts of the world shines best in the spring and summer seasons. Fall is for football. Winter is for indoor games. But come April, the Masters is on my mind....Sorry MLB.

I truly believe the winner, Jason Day and his lead competitor, Jordan Spieth honored the game with the way they played their final round. Phenomenal golf, integrity, sportsmanship, class, open vulnerability and emotion, respect and victory—it doesn't get much sweeter than that. So sweet, that the bitter in bittersweet is nil.

Perhaps you learned that this year's championship, played at Whistling Straits in Koehler, Wisconsin brought much more than a first major title for its out and out winner, Jason Day (who finished 20 under par). It gave rise to a new number one player: Jordan Alexander Speith. 

Every time I watch golf on television, I learn more about the game. Not just how to hit, strategies to consider and but I learn about life too. Here are but a few insights that I gained from this year's tourney. I'm grateful for the memories, in particular, what you will read here.

No one plays defense in golf.
I can't believe I never thought about this before. It's man (or woman) versus the hole. Although there is match play and other variations of the game, all professional golfers aim to get the lowest score period.  

My friend Paul brought this to my attention as we watched Jordan Spieth heartily acknowledge a great putt that the leader, Jason Day just hit. And, it cost Spieth absolutely nothing to do that. Not only is it good sportsmanship, Paul considers it good karma. It was just one sign of many that Jordan Spieth is a true champion.

Spieth made sure Day knew he appreciated the Aussie's performance. During a perfect putt on No. 17, Spieth suddenly cut across the screen, flashing a thumbs-up at Day in the process. (see it  here)

At that point in the match, Day was leading by three strokes. When he made that shot, I believe Spieth realized that the championship was truly in his opponent's grasp. Rather than getting uptight or competing with blinders on until the last hole, Spieth played his game and appreciated his opponent's craft. Folks...that's great golf.

I started to wonder what else in life precludes defense. What other competitive endeavors allow you to applaud and/or encourage your opponent at no cost?

Tears will be shed.
I can't think of another sport where the victor so openly and frequently weeps. It's not uncommon in professional sports, but golf seems to bring it out in the athlete and in me. Even before he sank his final putt, Jason Day let the tears flow. When he secured the victory, he contributed to the water line of Lake Michigan. And he's no different than Bubba Watson (Masters 2012, 2014), Zach Johnson (British Open 2015), and Justin Rose (US Open: Merion 2014).

I doubt that Martin Kaymer's win at the US Open: Pinehurst in 2014 got me choked up, but I can't tell you how many times I carry the emotions of joy, relief, delight, and gratitude when I watch a major come to a close. I know it's because beauty always evokes a deep response—it comes from the soul. I find beauty on a golf course....in great competition...in excellence in athletics. I can't help but feel this way, more often than not, it's waterworks...

Where do you find beauty—a beauty that elicits a response marked by tears?

True champions are born...and understood in due time
If you don't know much about Jason Day, it's worth learning about his life—what he's been through, where he came from and who he is today. As he told ESPN's Tom Rinaldi, "I didn't think I had a future, with the way I was living my life." But golf fans are happy he did.

Paired on Sunday with the crowd favorite—Jordan Spieth, Day "finally got the monkey off his back" in winning his first major title. And I think it's worth noting that golf is one of the few sports where the victor truly beats everyone in the field. As opposed to tennis—another individual sport—the winner only plays a given number based on his or her seed. The Superbowl and World Series champions do not eliminate every team in the postseason to earn their titles. But a golfer beats all. The numbers do not lie.

A great Aussie. Jason Day lives in Ohio with his wife (an American) and son Dash.
He said there's no way he'll renounce his Australian citizenship.

Golf enthusiasts and sports fans everywhere would have loved to see Spieth capture his third major of the year. Only two men in the history of the game have that accomplishment in their dossier: Ben Hogan in 1953 and Tiger Woods in 2000. Spieth came up short by three strokes but by all of nothing with his insight on the game. "It's the best loss I've ever had." 

When he said that, I thought "Who says that?!!" What a classy, complimentary and fun way to honor his opponent. The man who says that is now the number one golfer in the world. I hope he is Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year 2015. His two major wins, a fourth and second place finish in the others and the fresh face he has brought to the game is another example of beauty.

Who stands out to you as a champion, even in defeat? When have you seen a game you love honored by exemplary play and sportsmanship?

That is a wrap on the 2015 golf season. Yes, the FedEx cup will commence soon, but as far as I'm concerned, the final major of the year afforded us with three champions: Jason Day, Jordan Spieth, and anyone who loves the game. Until April.... 

Photo Credits
Day and Spieth
Tears

The US Open, Father's Day and Jason Day

In early June, I was on my first golf trip. I traveled with 25 other women from the Olympic Club in San Francisco for five rounds of golf in five days in Pinehurst, NC. On most days, I played with someone new. I had a caddy and forecaddies for the first time. I had a lot of time to talk to a lot of different people about...golf. An easy question to ask any golfer is: How did you start playing? A good number in this group said something I hope to hear more often—they learned from their mom! In fact, one golfer learned the game from her own mother who played on the LPGA tour in the 1950s. That was inspiring. But, the majority of golfers learn the game from, their dad.

Jason Day and his son Dash

I picked up my first golf club in high school when I took a 6-pack of group lessons run by the City of Walnut Creek. My dad signed up with me. He didn't need to take lessons; I'm not even sure he was serious about playing the game, but I understand now why he did. Thanks Dad!

The final round of the U.S. Open always falls on Father's Day. I would be interested to know how long this tradition has stood, because it's a great one. On my flight home from the 115th Open at Chambers Bay in University Place, WA I talked to the President of my golf club. He shared with me that his favorite part of Father's Day is that it's the one day of the year his daughters will sit down with him to watch golf. 

For those that do watch, you will see a series of ads run by the USGA that feature current players and their fathers. I can only imagine how many hours these dads spent with their sons on the links. I would hope that golf has strengthened their relationship. After all, the game demands a lot of time. And if there's one thing we still cannot buy, it's time. 

Justin Rose honored his own father with his US Open victory in 2013 at Merion

A number of  professional football, basketball and baseball players have fathers who played the game professionally as well. On the current tour among golfers, only Jimmy Walker comes to mind. There are however, some golfers you will not see with their fathers, as they are no longer with us. When Justin Rose captured the U.S. Open in Merion, PA, he took a moment to honor his father with a prayer, some tears and a point to the sky before he sank his final putt for the victory. His dad had died of Leukemia at but 57 years of age. Bubba Watson's father was the only coach he ever had. I didn't understand why the already emotional Bubba was blubbering as he won the Master's in 2012. His father and namesake Gerry Lester Watson, Sr had died of throat but a year and a half prior. 

Many eyes will be on Jason Day today as he shares the lead with three other golfers. Day's father, Alvin—an Aussie died of stomach cancer when Jason was but 12 years old. Day, learned the game from this man and since his death Jason has certainly face, battled and overcome his fair share of personal struggle and adversity. 

J-Day and his caddie, who has been like a father to him

One need not win a tournament to honor their father, but excellence in golf is always an invitation to something more. Golfers will analyze the length of their average drive, their number of putts, greens on regulation, etc, but many of us also want to know the story behind the journey. Jason Day himself is a father. His son Dash was born in 2012. His caddie Colin Swatton has been like a father to him. I will be cheering for him because I want to see him take that turn. Day has been the runner up in three majors (two US Opens and the Masters). I also think he's good for golf, to me, he has the "x" factor. 

How's that? It's merely just speculation and it's something fun to think about: I think he might be the Andre Igoudala of the PGA. Unfortunately, more people now know who Jason Day is because he collapsed from Vertigo on his final hole during Round 2 of the Open; I would prefer that they know about him because he's an exciting golfer to watch. In the article "Andre and the Giant" I read something pretty remarkable:

​​​Andre Iguodala lay in bed after Game 2 of the NBA Finals and his fiancée, Christina Gutierrez, placed a hand on his stomach. “Your skin,” she said, “feels hot.” Several hours had passed since Iguodala left Oakland’s Oracle Arena, but he was still burning up, as if he had just sprinted off the court. He wasn’t sick, but he popped a Tylenol and set the thermostat in his house to a frosty 60°. When theWarriors forward returned home five days later from Cleveland, he found that his air-conditioning unit had broken, maddening because his Finals fever had not. He joked that he shaved his head in hopes of cooling down. Iguodala’s condition may sound implausible, but one league trainer claims it is common for stress hormones to rise in demanding situations, causing spikes in body temperature. “It’s like you’re a car,” Iguodala says, “and your engine is overheating.” Such is the strain required to survive 48-minute collisions with the turbo-powered tank known as LeBron James. 

I was wondering if it was a combo of Vertigo, dehydration and stress hormones that led to his collapse. Did he overheat? That course is big and brutal. Iggy came back and was the Finals MVP. J-Day came back during Round 3 and is in contention. Today will be the next chapter in his story....