The 19^th Hole

July 23, 2006

Divine Intervention?

Throughout this week, Open Championship runner-up Chris DiMarco talked about his belief that some kind of divine intervention guided his excellent finish at Royal Liverpool following the sudden death of his mother.  It was hard not to believe in his message given the way he played throughout the championship. 

Until this week, DiMarco had struggled all season and was lurking in the 120s on the PGA Tour money list.  For some reason, things were just not clicking for the man who almost single handedly willed the United States to a clutch win in the President’s Cup.  DiMarco had only managed to make the cut in 9 of 17 events before this week.  His best finish was a tie for 9^th in the Accenture Match Play event.  This was not the DiMarco that golf fans have come to know over recent years.

If you do not believe in the handiwork of the divine, you may just chalk this week up to DiMarco becoming more inspired to play excellent golf as a way of serving his mother’s memory.  Or, if you look even closer, you may find that DiMarco may also have been inspired by the eventual champion Tiger Woods.

You see, for whatever reason, Tiger Woods has been the eventual champion in two of Chris DiMarco’s three second place finishes in a major championship.  (Vijay Singh was the eventual champion at the 2004 PGA Championship – DiMarco’s other second.)  It was just two years ago that DiMarco engaged Woods in an epic duel at Augusta National with the Masters on the line.  Were it not for a chip shot that some could argue was aided by the divine, DiMarco may have a green jacket.

This year, Woods opened with a less than benign 67 that announced his intentions for the week ahead.  Meanwhile, DiMarco opened with an average round of 70 that left him three back of Woods and four out of the lead.  The next day, though, DiMarco could very well have been inspired by Woods’ round and tied the course record (and to his dismay, Woods also) with a second round 65.  DiMarco quickly found himself in position for a weekend battle with Woods.

Still three out of the lead with 36 holes to play, DiMarco closed the gap to one on Saturday and gave himself a chance with one more trip around Royal Liverpool to go.  On Sunday, when course conditions were hardest in terms of physical makeup and difficulty, DiMarco and Woods were lone standouts among the leaders.  DiMarco gave a tremendous effort that came up a little bit short when Woods made three straight birdies to guarantee another year with the Claret Jug.

Regardless of coming up just a little short, DiMarco turned in an inspiring performance that was just as compelling as the precision that Woods displayed in dominating Royal Liverpool.  It is not certain whether it was aided by something not of this earth, inspired by an unfortunate circumstance, the efforts of Woods, or some combination thereof.  Still, the week provides a lasting tribute to DiMarco’s mother and perhaps can help in some small way of helping the grieving process.

The same can be said for Tiger Woods, who has been playing inspired golf for his entire life.  Until the past few years when his father’s health began to worsen, he had been inspired by his drive to surpass Jack Nicklaus’ records in the majors.  Now, though, that inspiration appears to have shifted, or at least been altered, to playing to win for Earl Woods and fulfilling a mission that the father and son began together many years ago.  Perhaps those inspirations are just one in the same now – or have always been. 

Given the similar family losses of DiMarco and Woods, it would be hard to say that the divine plays favorites.  Perhaps, in the end, divine intervention only goes so far and leaves the rest up to the talent already provided.  At that point, then, the final result of Woods picking up his 11^th major championship is the appropriate one.  No matter what the “right” ending was to the Open Championship, the story of the Champion Golfer of the Year and the silver medalist is compelling, real, and something much more important than sport.  Maybe inspiring the kind of empathy and support shown this week for both men and their grieving families is the real divine intervention and that is something for which we can be thankful.

Ryan Ballengee is host of The 19^th Hole Golf Show, found at The Golf Newsnet.com.  You can also get The 19^th Hole on the go through podcasting by clicking here Feedburner.com - The 19th Hole Golf Show.  Contact Ryan via e-mail at the19thholeshow@hotmail.com.

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