Charl Schwartzel US Open Masters winner
I am an avid follower of the Masters Golf Tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club – the home of the legendary Bobby Jones who started the Masters with Clifford Roberts in Augusta, Georgia. In April, as the spring sets in, hundreds flock the pristine, scenic and haloed fairways of this golf course originally designed by Bobby Jones and Alistair MacKenzie. Millions sit glued to their TV sets to watch the best golfers in the world rub shoulders and play to win one of golf’s most prized grand slams. The final round of the 2011 Masters was as close as could be with an hour from close, six players were within striking distance of winning the tournament. In a nerve racking finish, South African, Charl Schwartzel emerged as the winner beating two Australians, Adam Scott and Jason Day! I felt good for Charl as he donned the traditional green jacket that traditionally follows the Masters’ winner. Charl proudly wore the jacket fifty years since Gary Player, another South African, who in 1951 as the first non American golfer to win the tournament. The focus and resilience that Charl demonstrated in Augusta in the final round was a demonstration of ability, accuracy and flawless execution like all previous champions. It was a class act … simply brilliant! But, what was equally impressive was the fact that barely 48 hours later, Charl was 10,000 miles and 22 flying hours away in hot and sultry Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia playing in the Maybank Malaysian Open tournament! Despite a radically different stage and a long distance flight in between, Charl was striking the ball with the same focus, authority, commitment and rhythm that he displayed in another continent, not to mention playing in different conditions and in a different time zone two days earlier! It almost seemed like he had just walked over to a neighboring course and resumed his game from where he had left it in Augusta.
So what makes this all come together? Continue reading »
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