Playing Like A Champion
I was truly mesmerized yesterday while watching the play of Keegan Bradley as he pounded his way to the top of the heap at the Players Championship Golf Tournament. This tournament is one of the four MAJOR tournaments all year in the game of golf.
The fact alone that he did this in his Rookie Year on the PGA Tour is somewhat of a MAJOR accomplishment, but it was how he did it that I would like to discuss briefly here. It is indeed a case study in motivational thinking and execution at its best.
Keegan had been playing very well during the tournament and led going into the 3rd round on Saturday. By the days end he was one shot behind and in a fine position to go after it on the final round on Sunday. He was in control of his own destiny, if I can use an over used sports saying. Keegan, it seemed, had arrived.
Starting out Sunday on his first hole, he birdied it and immediately took 1st position – Tied with two others in the field. I was especially excited for Keegan, because I live in the town where he grew up and played most of his golf, here in Woodstock VT. I know Keegan’s father Mark personally, and I have kept up with Keegan’s progress through facebook and watching the leader board every week at PGA.com. There are a bunch of us here in town that root for Keegan. You could I imagine hear us all yelling in unison yesterday throughout the town.
So as Keegan progressed through the match, his play seemed to be quite capable of being in the match right though to the end, and then, well who knows right? I had this overwhelmingly optimistic feeling of excitement, as I started watching him yesterday, much like how I felt at the beginning of Game 4 in 2004 when the Red Sox were down 3-0 with the Yankees – I just felt they could do this.
So as it happened, Keegan had a faltering on the 15th hole and fell off the lead by 4 strokes with just 3 holes to play. Some would have just played to be a strong second, but not Keegan Bradley. Yesterday, Keegan earned his “Champion” title, because he so aptly stepped up to be “The Champion”.
Michael Jordan has a great quote I like so much. “Talent wins games but teamwork and intelligence wins Championships”. That’s what Keegan Bradley showed yesterday, in a sport that, as Yogi Berra would say it, “50% of this game is 90% mental”. That is exactly what the game of golf is, 90% mental!!
It would have been easy for Keegan to just play for that 2nd place and be happy with that. Who would have blamed him for being happy with a solid 2nd place. Yes, that is true, but Champions play to the end, every second, every inning, quarter, down, out, hole – every game.
There was no fat lady singing out on the course, and so Keegan stayed calm and collected. He knew it could be done, it was not impossible. He remembered the intelligence he had learned from his father Mark, a seasoned Teaching PGA Professional and his Aunt Pat Bradley, a LPGA Hall of Fame golfer, and what a lot of others had given him along the way.
Standing alone on the 16th tee, Keegan had all of the experience from all of his teammates and teachers, coaches, and colleagues in his corner. He simply needed to execute, which we all know is not easy at all. I have noticed that most ‘Simple’ things are not ‘Easy’ and this was the case yesterday. Slowly and methodically Keegan advanced and lowered the deficit by 2 strokes over the next 3 holes. He simply put himself in a position to win by doing what he did best – Playing Golf to the best of his ability.
Consequently, his opponent in this duel, Jason Dufner, accommodated Keegan’s date with destiny, by decreasing his own lead by 2 strokes over the next 3 holes and well what do you know – We have a tie and a 3 hole playoff ahead of us. This is the stuff fairy tales are made of.
Keegan continued his Championship play over the first two playoff holes and entered the third and final hole, ahead of Dufner by 2 strokes. It was Keegan’s turn to seize the day and on the last hole of the playoff, he did exactly that and won the playoff and the PGA Championship by one stroke.
So let me conclude my writing today by offering my congratulations to Keegan Bradley and his entire family, who as it seems, all have what it takes to be Champions. Well done Keegan! You have given me and countless others a gi-normous lesson on what we can all do to be our own Champions when it comes down to the final match. Stay in the game, every second, every play. Thanks for the memories and the lessons Keegan. I’ll never forget them.
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This post instantly makes me want to go play golf.
Good read Gary!
~Marcelle
Great post Gary.
You are a Champion!!!!
Thanks Marcelle – I appreciate the weekend love 😉
Thanks Jarett – I look forward to connecting with you and reading your championship newsletter!
Thanks also for the weekend love!
Hey Garry! Great article man! There is nothing more motivating that looking into the eyes of a fully focused athlete who is in the ZONE!
It’s a very distinct look that one who has been in there shoes can resonate with! Best feeling EVER!
Joshua the ZamuraiBlogger