Birdies, Bogeys & Life Lessons from the Game of GolfSample

Meltdown

Golf can be a cruel game at times. Even the most seasoned golfers can have a meltdown and lose their concentration. As all golfers find out, it is a humbling game, no matter your experience level.

On the Sunday of the 2021 Travelers Championship, Bubba Watson was in the lead when he entered the back nine. However, Bubba would make three bogeys and a double bogey on the back nine to shoot 73 and lose by six strokes. It was a complete meltdown. However, Bubba handled the situation well:

“Gosh, I’ve thrown up on myself before here. Made a triple on 16 to lose when I was up by one or two that year,” Watson said, referencing 2013, when he led by two strokes with three holes to play, only to hit his tee shot into the water on 16 and finish two strokes out of a playoff. (2)

While understandably disappointed in the way the event turned out, Watson hoped to win at a high level again:

“I’m glad that I was there, had the opportunity,” he said. “You know, I would love to do it again next week, throw up on myself again. It would it be great. I want the opportunity and the chance to win.” (3)

I was impressed with how Bubba handled this situation. We all must realize golf is very unpredictable sometimes, even for the world’s best players.

Lemons to Lemonade

Many times, life throws us a basket of lemons. These experiences can make us avoid putting ourselves into these positions for fear of failure again. Watson chose to see his meltdown differently. He chose to see it as a learning experience, knowing that each time he is put in that situation, he has a chance to do better. The two-time Masters champ realized there are no guarantees in this game. Just because you succeeded last time when put in a position to win does not mean you’ll perform well the next time.

The key is to embrace the opportunity and trust God for the outcome, no matter what that might be. We must be willing to fail forward.

(2) “Bubba Watson Collapses on Back Nine in Bid for Fourth Travelers Championship Title,” The Golf Channel, NBC Sports, June 27, 2021.

(3) “Bubba Watson Collapses.”