Pro Golf Is in Good, Young Hands

Last updated on: August 18, 2015 at 10:44 pm by Kermit Zarley

Pro Golf Is in Good, Young Hands 2015-08-18T22:44:08-07:00 Kermit Zarley

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I was glad for Jason Day on Sunday when he won the PGA Championship by three strokes. It was his first time to win one of the four majors in international professional golf: the Masters in April, U.S. Open in June, British Open in July, and the U.S. PGA Championship in August. It surely capped off one of the most exciting years for the four majors in the history of professional golf.

Jason Day is a dark and handsome, muscular yet slender, six-foot tall, 27 year-old Australian who now lives with his young family in Ohio. His father was Irish-Australian and his mother is Phillipino. Jason has a terrific golf swing and is powerful off the tee. He reminds me of another Australian–Greg Norman. Eve Day’s golf swing reminds me of Norman’s swing, except Jason doesn’t swing closed to open like Greg did somewhat. It caused Norman to block some iron shots right under pressure, such as last holes at the Masters and U.S. Open that caused him to lose both tournaments. Jason just let it rip under that pressure, thus releasing the clubhead properly to square the face at impact. However, that long four iron shot at the par five sixteenth barely stayed right next to the left side of the green. With a three shot lead the time, some players would have played safe under those conditions. Not Jason Day. He won in style.

Jason had been seriously knocking at the door to win a major. Until this tournament, he had finished in the top ten in six out of the last seven majors. In the last two majors, the U.S. Open and British Open, he had held or was tied for the 54-hole lead. At that U.S. Open, he battled Veritgo the last two rounds. It is almost impossible to play golf with Vertigo.

Jason beat the new PGA Tour sensation, now 22-year old Jordan Spieth, to win. It was almost like match play since they were paired together that last round. And the pressure was really strong on Jason Day. Jordan Spieth had set records by winning the first two majors this year and the first two for him: the Masters and the U.S. Open. Plus, Spieth is a big crowd favorite. But Jason Day is also very well liked.

Even before Jason Day holed his last putt, a one footer, he couldn’t hold back the tears. He said in the presentation ceremony minutes later that he surprised himself that he cried. In fact, he shed a lot of tears as he hugged his caddie. It was because his life was flashing before him. His father had died when he was twelve years old. His caddie, Col Swatton, had helped Jason turn his life around as a teenager and even became his mentor, father figure, coach, and now his caddie. The scene was heart warming. (In late 2013, eight of Jason Day’s relatives, including his grandmother, died in Typhoon Haiyan in the Phillipines.)

Then, to top it off, Jason’s three year old son, Dash, ran out to his dad as he was walking off the last green and Jason carried him all the way to the scorer trailer. And we could hear Dash on television crying out to his dad that he wanted to go with him. It was precious. Jason, his beautiful wife Ellie, who has another child on the way, and Dash live in their own motor home at tournaments. Chalk up one for the family.

Even though competition in professional golf is always fierce, just as in other professional sports, a lot of these young pros are true gentlemen, even when they lose. For example, when Jason Day hit a long putt close to the hole on the 70th hole, Jordan Spieth smilingly raised his thumb in Jason’s direction to signal “great putt.” In the televised media interview soon after the finish, Spieth paid a fine compliment to Day about how Jason played so well, with long drives in the fairway all day, especially in the closing holes. Jordan said, “there wasn’t anything I could do” to win.

Professional golf is in good, young hands these days.

Previous Post

August 16, 2015

Thump Trump!

Next Post

August 19, 2015 No "Jesus Is God" in the Acts of the Apostles

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Angels Billy Graham Blog Description Book Reviews Christian Living Christianity Christology Church History Current Events Deity of Christ? Disarmament Eschatology Evangelicalism Ezekiel 38-39 Film Reviews God Golf Gospel Harmonization Health History Holy Spirit Incarnation? Interview Islam Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Jesus Last Empire Literary Announcements Major Championship Winners Masters Monotheism My Books New Testament Old Testament Politics Primitive Weapons Ryder Cup Science Society of Biblical Literature The Bible The Restitution of Jesus Christ Trinitarianism Trinity? Uncategorized Unconditional Love? War on Terrorism

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

How many psalms are attributed to Moses?

Select your answer to see how you score.

One Ten Five Three

Books by This Author Books by Kermit Zarley Blog

See All Titles »