Yesterday (Monday) Matt Kuchar won the PGA golf tournament at Turning Stone Resort in Kentucky. It did not have the more famous names in golf playing, but each golfer had talent enough to win.
Kuchar won it in a six-hole playoff against Vaughn Taylor.So what is the big deal? A pro golfer won a tournament and a million dollars! To me, the big deal is PERSISTENCE. Let me tell you a bit of the story.
Matt Kuchar was an outstanding athlete in many sports growing up. He was a state-ranked tennis player in 12-and under in the state of Florida. He played soccer well and could dunk a basketball in high school.. He bowled a 200 game. He was awesome in ping-pong. At the age of twelve he took up golf seriously. He shot a 69 at the age of fifteen. He made his high school varsity while in the seventh grade and won the conference chapionship the next year. He went off to Georgia Tech where he became an All-American. He won the national amateur championship at 19. That gave him an invitation to play in the most prestigious tournament in the world....The Masters. Matt not only played there, he shot an even par which was the fifth best score EVER shot at the Masters by an amateur. When he walked into the Masters Clubhouse for the awards banquet he received a standing ovation. His dad carried his clubs for the tournament as his caddy. He would soon go professional, and won a PGA Tour Tournament his very first year that was the Honda Classic in 2002. Until yesterday he hadn't won in SEVEN long years. Matt even had to move back to the "minor league" tour in 2006 when he only made $30,000.. That isn't enough to even pay expenses.
I cannot help but admire this 31 year old guy with a big smile and a good game. He did not quit. I am sure many gave up on him, but he didn't give up on himself. His wife, whom he met at Georgia Tech, has stuck with him. His parents have been strong support. Golf, however, is a one-man sport. You are the team. You win or lose or come in second. As an amateur champion back several years ago Matt Kuchar said: "I always wanted to be like Arnold Palmer. He's such a people person, signing autographs, great with the media. I always wanted to be a person who people enjoyed watching. People are hungry for that."
As I read of his win this morning I thought of another fellow in past history who had persistence and waiting powers. " Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, 'I'll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel." Laban said: "It is better that I give her to you than to some other man. Stay here with me.". So Jacob served for seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her." (Genesis 29) We know it wasn't quite that easy with the scheming Laban. He added on more years.
I doubt those years for Matt Kuchar seemed only like a few days, but that is behind him now. We wish him much success.
