Kenny Perry and Jack Nicklaus http://www.themonitor.com/sports/perry-joins-woods-as-three-time-winners-of-memorial/image_d32640f1-2667-54f5-85ca-ac0438054412.html
I follow professional golf pretty closely. During Jack Nicklaus’ Memorial tournament some interesting comments were made that have me to thinking.
Jack Nicklaus considered the greatest golfer of all-time because of his 18 career Major wins, said, “”I think I underachieved all my life.” Nicklaus said Wednesday at the Memorial. ”I think that’s why I got better.” He went on to say, ”I still don’t think I achieved what I could have achieved in my career.” He did finish a record 19 times in 2nd place in the four big events. Nicklaus went on to add that he is most proud of his family with 5 children and 22 grandchildren. He added that he doesn’t believe his family would be what they enjoy today, had he spent more time and effort on golf.
While Nicklaus was making these comments during the week. Kenny Perry was playing his last PGA tour event. Kenny is a member of the Church of Christ and has had a great career. He has been one of my favorite players over the years and always so down-to-earth and kind. Kenny lives in Franklin, KY. He is 54 and ended his career by playing the Memorial tournament one last time, the place where he won his first tour event in 1991. Kenny missed the half-way cut with a bogey on the last hole. In an interview Kenny recollected his thoughts on the special day and how grateful he was for all the blessings and memories he had on tour and at the Memorial tournament. Kenny made the statement, “i have no regrets.”
I found Kenny’s statement to be fascinating. You see Kenny missed out on two major championship wins. In 1996, he took a one shot lead into the final hole of Valhalla golf club in the PGA championship in his home state. A par five that he bogeyed and then lost on the same hole in the playoff. In 2009, in an even more crushing defeat Kenny lost the Masters in a playoff after leading by two with two holes to play. He bogeyed 17 and 18. He almost won the playoff but came up just short. Kenny relied deeply on his faith and was an example of perspective and dignity in this tough loss.
Now compare Jack and Kenny’s statements. Who should have more to regret? Who would feel like they underachieved? While Jack was speaking about his motivation and what caused him to work hard, I think it still speaks to him having nagging regret. I admire Kenny’s humble and grateful attitude. I admire his sincere statement, “I have no regrets.” He had moved on from these failures. Kenny has gone on to win three Senior major championships.
Today is my birthday. I am turning 39. I can’t play a 9 hole round of golf without having regrets, so I don’t fully know how Kenny does it with golf, but I hope to have this same attitude in my life. In someways I can feel like Nicklaus in that 39 years have passed and maybe I haven’t achieved or done all I had hoped I would do. But I want to push forward into the future and the opportunities that God has for me. I want to live with no regrets and move forward to the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Phil. 3:14). Will you join me and Kenny with the same attitude?
