The Search

Greetings Golfers,

I just watched a video of Tiger Woods asking Jon Rahm how he hits a certain cut-shot … this happened while they were playing last week at the Scottish Open.

The “search” never ends.

Not for Tiger … not for any of us. Not only the search for a better golf swing … but the search to understand how to hit different shots.

Ben Hogan hit balls at the range every day until he died. Picture this old, crippled guy still beating balls … it’s crazy … and inspiring.

Sort of like Don Quixote on his search. Lyrics from “The Impossible Dream”: 

“This is my quest, to follow that star, no matter how hopeless, no matter how far”.

We get it. Golf is much more than playing the game … it’s also the “search”.

Just go on-line and look at the golf instruction videos. It’s endless.

Don Quixote was portrayed as an idealist … and his side-kick Pancho was the realist. Late in the book … they flip sides. Because we need to be an idealist AND a realist.

Golf makes you a realist. The ball goes where you hit it. Not where you dream it … where you actually hit it.

However, you need to be an idealist to keep dreaming of yourself hitting beautiful shots.

Hogan was an idealist and a realist. When he started his golf equipment company … he rejected the first run of irons. They almost folded. But, he wouldn’t sell inferior quality clubs. And … he made it work.

Idealist and realist.

Looks like Tiger is trying to follow in Hogan’s footsteps. In 1953, after his accident, Hogan only played in six tournaments … and won five … including three Majors: Masters, US Open, British Open. 

Tiger is crippled-up too … and this year played in the Masters and US Open … though he skipped the PGA to get ready for “The Open”. I get it. Obviously it’s at St. Andrews. He had to do it.

The “search” continues this weekend at the “Home of Golf”.

I hope it always will.

Cheers,

Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com