Golf is a Game of Second Chances
Grandparents, tacky coffee mugs, and misattributed internet quotes all offer varying interpretations of the prevalence and legitimacy of second chances. It would take a special type of arrogance for me to claim I know better than any of those three beacons of infinite wisdom. However, as you may have read in prior Scramble blog posts, golf often provides a neat blueprint to understand our lives and ourselves.
In professional golf, second chances are the norm and not the exception. It is not just the impossible shotmaking and clutch putting that triggers the sweet release of dopamine that keeps golf fans worldwide engaged and hungry for more. Comeback stories are just as effective at captivating viewers week after week. And yet, not all comebacks are created equal.
Some of them stem from the overcoming of professional challenges. In 2007, Sergio Garcia was unable to capitalize on a three-shot lead coming into the final round of the Open Championship, missing an 8-foot putt for the win and ultimately losing in a playoff. Other near-misses at Majors (four second-place finishes and 22 top-10’s overall) gave credence to the unofficial title of “best golfer without a major” and to the widespread skepticism regarding his ability to ever win one. You would be hard-pressed to find a viewer, Garcia fan or not, who did not breathe a sigh of relief after Sergio’s epic Masters victory in 2017.
Other comebacks tell the story of a player getting past unfavorable circumstances over which he or she has no control. After a strong start to his career, a persistent back injury forced Patrick Cantlay to sit out much of professional golf between 2013 and 2016. In early 2016, his caddie and childhood friend was killed in a hit-and-run accident when the two were out bar hopping. Overcoming injury and tragedy, Cantlay returned stronger and is now a FedEx Cup Champion and top-10 player in the world (and damn does that weird footwork work wonders on the putting green).
Finally, golf offers us profound comeback stories from personal mistakes. Tiger’s unmatched legacy will be defined by the trailblazing of a young Black man in a predominantly white sport; the breakneck speed at which he reached the peak of golfing performance; the unprecedented dominance that ensued; and the humanity-defying ability to fight through and succeed despite countless injuries. And yet, just as indelible was Tiger’s 2009 infidelity scandal, which broke his home and marriage, ended various sponsorship deals, and rightfully disappointed admirers worldwide. Contrary to the rest of his career, Tiger’s comeback from his personal mistakes cannot be helped by his sporting greatness. Instead, it is a raw and ongoing process that started with therapy and public and private apologies, continued with an extended break from the spotlight, and to this day persists with a focus on what is within his control –primarily, his relationship with his children. Beyond an endearing moment, Tiger’s hug with his son Charlie after winning the 2019 Masters provided a glimpse of Tiger the father, whose faults are undeniable, but who has shown his family and his fans that he can regain their trust – his greatest comeback of all.
So what do second chances look like for amateur golfers like you and me? Should you be empowered to boast about your round in the low 80s even if it was tainted by an ugly mulligan along the way? Well, yes! (And you better have hit the re-do down the fairway…) But our second chances go beyond a breakfast ball. We get to play the weekend after a lousy round, go double-or-nothing against our playing partners, finally birdie the toughest hole at your home course, and most importantly, take a break from life’s troubles to tee it up yet again, clear your mind, and just play.
Juan Posada
