Archive for the ‘Gary Player’ Category

Good for You, Louie!

Monday, July 19th, 2010

As anyone who reads this blog knows by now that the winner of this year’s British Open is Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa.  He won it the way most every golfer wins their first (major) tourney.  He combined the most important quality of all, talent, with consistent play, determination, wise decision-making, an ability to keep his nerves under control and focus to lead nearly wire-to-wire. 

When I heard him asked the question in an interview following Friday’s round, “Who was your role model?” I turned to the person next to me and confidently said, “Gary Player,” just as Louis gave his answer.  “Ernie Els.”  Am I that old? 

A white guy and a black caddie from South Africa - on Nelson Mandela’s 92nd birthday (which, if we didn’t know prior to the day’s play, we found out immediately after it was over and Louis wished the leader a happy birthday) - not only take the Claret Jug, but do so by steamrolling the competition, winning by 7 - yeah, seven - strokes.  Were the stars aligned just right or will we hear more from this gracious champion?

Because of the manner in which he conducted himself over the past four days, I know I’m hoping for the latter, and there is no doubt that hundreds of other fans share that feeling.  So what’s the key for a guy who missed the cut in 7 of his previous 8 majors?  Take the advice of Anthony Robbins:

“In essence, if we want to direct our lives, we must take control of our consistent actions.  It’s not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives, but what we do consistently.” 

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Posted in leaving a legacy, focus, mental toughness, role models, Louis Oosthuizen, pressure, character, persistence, attitude, Gary Player, golf, fans | No Comments »

Others Believed He Was a Master and Now He Is

Monday, April 14th, 2008

Trevor Immelman won the Master’s and the green blazer that accompanies it with a performance that defied the odds - mainly because Tiger Woods was also entered in the same tournament.  For such outstanding play, i.e.  in weather conditions that, okay, everyone had to play in, but winning in such a fasion (wire-to-wire), he ought to get a shirt, tie, pants and belt to go along with the sport coat.

Some may ask how could someone who, while not unknown in golfing circles, but still not a household name outside of his own abode, win his first Major at a place as hallowed as Augusta National?  We need to look no further than those who know him best. 

First, the headmaster of the school where he was enrolled admitted they turned a blind eye toward his sporadic attendance because of the sheer, unparalleled talent Trevor possessed.  On the way to a junior tournament, Trevor’s mother asked him if he was nervous.  When he claimed he wasn’t, she decided she needn’t be either.

The next “cheerleader” for Immelman was none other than “The Big Easy,” Ernie Els, a fellow countryman who was, maybe not shouting the praises of T. Imm (not sure if they use that slang term for people in South Africa, but I thought I’d Americanize the piece for the readers - most of whom do understand such nicknames), but has told all who would listen what a marvelous young golfer he was.  And finally, if you’re South African, who better to have in your corner than “The Black Knight,” Gary Player, who, among other compliments, compared his swing to that of Ben Hogan, in what many golf purists thought was sacrilegious.  But that is what Gary Player saw in Trevor Immelman from a very young age.

So, as Woodrow Wilson remarked many years ago - and apparently still holds true:

“A man is not as big as his belief in himself; he is as big as the number of persons who believe in him.”

Posted in The Master's, golf, Gary Player, Trevor Immelman, positive reinforcement | 1 Comment »