On Sunday afternoon, we were treated to another one of those Masters Tournaments that inspires all of us to get the clubs out and play golf. There is something about early April that does it to us every year. The only difference this year was the scores were higher and the characters were a bit unknown. And at the end of the day, one man stood above the rest. He had persevered through the toughest conditions on the toughest golf course with the toughest competitor roaring at his heels. Tiger has a way of fighting for things he wants!
Perseverance.
Most of us don't know what that truly means and yet to Zach Johnson, it is all he knows. Despite his dreams of attending the University of Iowa, he got a scholarship from one school -- Drake. When he graduated from school, he had no promise of a playing career on the PGA TOUR. No United States Amatuer victories or any of the other accolades that typically go along with guaranteed success on the TOUR. He played the Praire Golf Tour then the NGA Hooters Tour. He persevered, worked it out and managed to perform well enough to make the Buy.Com Tour (Nationwide Tour). He persevered, worked it out and became the all-time leading Money winner on the Buy.Com Tour to earn his PGA TOUR status. He persevered, worked it out and in April 2004, won for the first time in Atlanta at the BellSouth Classic (now AT&T Classic), the week before the Masters.
This past Easter Sunday, we were treated to another example of his continued perseverance. We watched this guy hit the ball in the fairway, knock the ball on the green and putt the ball in the hole. Oh yeah, under the most extraordinary of circumstances, the back nine on Sunday of the Masters. He is not supposed to do this. He is supposed to wilt under the pressure, miss-hit shots, gag putts and surrender the Green Jacket to the anointed one.
Perseverance.
We had the pleasure of watching someone who had persevered and worked hard to gain all of his success. This was not an easy week, far from it. The golf course and conditions were tougher than any participant could imagine whether playing in their first Masters or fiftieth. And while this Masters looked more like a U. S. Open, on Sunday it was finally about birdies and eagles. When Tiger made his eagle on 13, we all thought he was on the prowl. He hit it close on 14 and looked like a sure birdie was to follow. Then Zach responded with a great shot at 16 and a possible birdie of his own. Then the unthinkable happened. Zach made and Tiger missed. What? No, that is supposed to be the other way around. We have seen it too many times. Tiger makes and the other guy misses.
Perseverance.
Next, we saw Tiger try the impossible. A cut long-iron approach over water to a back right hole location on 15. He had done this before. In Canada. Yeah that's it. He'll hit this close and make another eagle and all will be right with the world. Tiger will claim his fifth green jacket and we will forget about who finished second. Zach who? But, a funny thing happened on the way to history. Tiger's approach found the water and though he made par and gave himself a good chance for birdie at 16, it was Zach's tournament to win or lose.
He persevered through a three-putt bogey at 17 and an errant approach to the 72nd hole. But he managed a well-judged chip to save his par and then was able to get through the agonizing wait. A time to think. A time to appreciate his situation. His beautiful wife and new-born son. A time to enjoy the past, present and future.
This was a day of a man who believed. A man who had faith and understanding of who he was and what he was made of. This was a day that that celebrated a journey that was difficult at times, but neccessary. This was a day of amazement. It's only fitting that it happened on Easter Sunday, a day that celebrates faith and renewal. Zach Johnson showed great faith by his perserverance. His reward is joining golf's legends as a Masters champion. What a great Lesson Learned.
Michael Breed is the PGA Head Professional at Sunningdale Golf Club in Scarsdale, New York. He was the 2000 Metropolitan PGA Teacher of the Year and is a highly sought after instructor for many media outlets including The Golf Channel, Golf Magazine, and PGA.com. Has worked with Chris Smith and Joe Durant on the PGA Tour and Emilee Klein on the LPGA Tour.
