Role Models

In my last post, I discussed the efforts of Richy Werenski in this year's USGA Junior Amateur. Last night Golf Central on the Golf Channel ran a short piece from the championship and showed a clip of the Werenski, Persons Round 2 match concluding on 18. It got me thinking.

Here's a young player in Werenski who just lost in the most unimaginable way- two up with four to play and has three straight birdies fired at him, them a long putt holed from off the green at the last to close out the match and end his Junior Amateur dream.

Richy came into frame on Golf Central's telecast, as he walked over to his opponent, he removed his cap and stuck out his hand and congratulated Persons on his win. Sportsmanship at a young age. Class at any age. I'm sure it wasn't easy to show such sportsmanship at that moment, but that's where character is born.

Anyone can act properly when things go their way. It's a lot more difficult to do so when disappointment is part of the equation. My cap goes off to Richy and all the junior players who conduct themselves with dignity when it would be quite easy to do the opposite.

Speaking of opposite, all you had to do was watch John Daly miss the cut on the European Tour's Inteco Russian Open this week. John made news recently when he went public blaming Butch Harmon for "ruining my life." Butch, when asked about why he's not working with Daly, said John lacked commitment to himself and his game.

Daly tried to insinuate that in some way he was the victim of Butch's comments. Please! John is well overweight, has a history of drinking and gambling issues and has had more marital challenges than anyone I know. Let's hope John Daly starts to face up to his responsibilities and stops playing the "blame game" which has become so much a part of our society today.

I'll take the Richy Werenski's, who show character in the face of defeat, instead of a lack thereof demonstrated by Daly when events went against him.

That's my view on the game.

Mark Gonsalves
CEO
Hank Haney IJGA