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Reality TV

12 OCT 2019

Photo courtesy of PGA TOUR, click here to see the highlights video.

At its best, sports can often hold up a mirror to real life and remind us the trials and successes we experience through sports really do highlight the passions and beliefs and personality we carry around in our day-to-day life. Simply put, our own chosen sport, and how we enjoy it, is often a pretty useful representation of how we lead our lives. It’s been said that sports on TV was the first reality TV we ever watched.

As golfers, we are quite aware that our sport, more than most, is indeed a great barometer for the rest of our lives. Share it with friends and family and never forgetting those early memories when we first took up the game. A Dad or a Mom, a grandparent or a sibling, and maybe there is a club pro or a teaching pro who was a big influence. No matter the scenario, these are wonderful relationship builders brought together through golf.

So it’s never too big a surprise when we see these life-meets-golf moments played out on Tour coverage. From the semi-routine hugs with the kids on the 18th green after a victory – to more meaningful moments like we saw recently with Cameron Champ winning the Safeway Open.

But first lets dig one generation deeper to a moment all of us golfers, of a certain vintage, remember on the 18th green at Augusta National. Ben Crenshaw was lucky enough to have been taught by one the most famous teachers of his time – Harvey Penick. Harvey certainly didn’t mind drawing instruction analogies from real life examples so it’s not surprising he made such a huge impact on Ben as a golfer and as a friend. Harvey passed away on the Sunday before tournament week of the 1995 Masters. We all know what happened and it was an incredible event to watch and share…. And if any of you are in a nostalgic mood with a couple hours to spare this Thanksgiving weekend, the good people at The Masters have made these great old rounds available to watch again.

Fast forward to two weeks ago with Cameron’s Grandfather nearby watching at home with stage 4 cancer. There are many great stories about parents and grandparents being remembered by a victor. It happens a lot at the US Open where the Championship Sunday is played against the backdrop of father’s day – that’s made for emotion and memories and Tears for sure. And the PGA Championship saw a lovely moment as Davis Love III putted out under a rainbow to win his first Major after recently losing his Dad.

Cameron’s story tugs at those same heart strings.. His Grandfather introduced him to the game so it wasn’t unexpected to see Cameron fall into his caddie’s arms after he holed out to win. Very similar to Ben breaking down in the arms of his long time caddie and friend Carl Jackson almost a quarter century ago at Augusta.

You can click here for the full story on Cameron Champ's emotional win.