Monday Morning Match is a simple post – maybe a quote, inspirational story or idea – intended to spark some motivation inside each of you so your week gets off to a fantastic start on Monday morning.
“Hello Friends”
It’s one of the sure signs of spring’s arrival. It’s something even people that don’t follow the sport know about and understand the history. It’s a “tradition unlike any other.” Of course, I am talking about The Masters Tournament, the first major golf event on the PGA Tour that is played every April at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia.
Did you watch? Did you get drawn in by the sheer beauty of the azaleas and majestic southern pines, the chirping birds, or the whispers of the broadcast team on The Golf Channel, ESPN, or CBS? Were you pulling for anyone in particular to win or were you just hoping for an exciting tournament?
If you watched any of this year’s 85th Masters Tournament, you know it fulfilled the latter. Easily one of the greatest tournaments with a leader board filled with stars from Thursday through the end of play on Sunday and capped off by one of the greatest victories by one of the games greatest players.
Tiger Woods claimed his 5th Master’s title (and the ceremonial green jacket that goes to the winner) in thrilling fashion with a one-stroke victory over 3 of the world’s best golfers and outdistancing other top-notch players by a few strokes. It was Woods first major championship in since 2008 and was celebrated by golf historians and many younger fans of Tiger Woods that had never seen him win a major event since they became golf fans.
It was quite an inspiring victory and amazing comeback story for Woods, who a decade ago encountered serious life issues that destroyed his shield of invincibility. Just years ago Woods was suffering physical ailments such as knee and back issues that almost saw his need to stop playing the game altogether. The idea of him returning to competitive golf was possible but the chances of him coming back to win a tournament, let alone a major championship, seemed even more remote. Last fall he secured his first victory in his comeback when he won the 2018 Tour Championship in dramatic fashion, but critics still asked if he would ever win a major. This weekend Tiger and the golf world got their answer.
In victory, I thought it was fitting to identify 15 Things Realtors Can learn from Tiger’s 15th Major…
- Never give up – it’s been 11 years since his last major title. Tiger’s competition wasn’t going to take it easy so Tiger could win again. He had to continue to work hard on his health, his game, and his mental skills to keep the fire burning inside that he could win again.
- Stay focused on your goals – When he was a little boy, Tiger had Jack Nicklaus’s record of 18 major titles on a sheet of paper on his bedroom wall. He has dreamed since his youth that he could be the golfer to break that record. After he started his career with numerous majors, people thought it might be a foregone conclusion that Woods would break the record. After his 14th at the US Open in San Diego, it seemed more than possible. When personal and physical issues became obstacles too big to overcome, many people changed their minds and said it would never happen. Many even said, “Tiger will never win again, let alone another major.” Tiger stayed focused on his goals and continues to work towards that 19th major the only way he knows how; one shot at a time.
- Listen to your body – Imagine sitting out when you are at the top of the game? When Tiger won his last major (US Open 2008) he competed on a severely ailing left knee. In fact, after winning that event, he was forced to take the rest of the season off for knee surgery and recovery. More recently, Tiger suffered severe back problems and was forced to stop playing the game while he underwent multiple surgeries, additional treatment, and months and months of therapy and rehab. Had he disregarded what his body was telling him, he not only might not have played golf again, he might not have been able to walk again.
- Practice with a purpose – Hitting balls and getting ready for a major tournament are two very different things. Understanding the course, the conditions, the detailed execution needed, and the mental challenges that would be required, it was critical that Tiger and his coaches worked on the right aspects of his swing that would put him in the best position to win.
- Go back to the places you feel the most confident – Five green jackets, earned across three decades, show how comfortable Woods feels on the grounds of Augusta National. The only major tournament that is played on the same course each year, there’s no doubt that Woods experience and knowledge of the course helped him over the four rounds and put himself in position to be the winner.
- Build up to the biggest challenges – It’s always been part of Tiger’s process to start the season slowly and work towards making sure his game is at its peak during the week of the majors. He determines his exercise, diet, game plan and everything else based on what will allow him to play his best during the weeks of the Masters, PGA Championship, US Open, and British Open. He never worries about others questioning his preparation or regimen. He creates a plan, studies the plan, and then executes the plan.
- Don’t listen to the haters – As popular as Tiger Woods is, there are legions of fans who don’t like him. Maybe it’s because he’s good? Maybe because he gets lots of attention? Maybe it’s his personality that rubs people the wrong way? Tiger has never felt the need to apologize or explain his approach to people who don’t want to listen. He doesn’t need anyone to be his friend to play good golf.
- Stay patient – Success takes times. As cliche as it may be, in golf…like life, you’ve got to play it one shot at a time.
- Trust your talents – Jack Nicklaus is often considered the “Greatest Golfer that has ever played the game.” With this win, it can be argued that while Jack might be the greatest “Champion” the game has ever seen, Woods is the greatest player. Time and time again, he was able to draw on his superior skills around the hollows of Augusta to execute shot after shot on his way to victory.
- Show appreciation for your closest supporters – After his first victory at The Masters back in 1997, Woods embraced his father Earl with a hug that few who witnessed it will ever forget. After this year’s victory, Tiger accepted congratulations from his fellow players and caddy and then walked briskly to the back of the 18th green to give a tear-inducing embrace to his son Charlie and his daughter Sam, both of whom had never seen their Dad win a major. He also gave a long embrace to his mother, Kultida, and was greeted near the clubhouse by many former Masters Champions and other tour players who were excited to see their peer…and some who would consider him their hero or idol, claim another victory.
- Fist pump for your little successes – It’s one of Tiger’s “signature moves”; The fist pump after a big putt drops into the hole. These are reserved for the biggest of moments, not just any good approach shot or par-saving putt. It was fun to watch Tiger find little moments of success along the way to let himself, and his fans know that he was enjoying the moment and each little celebration added fuel and belief that he could complete the climb.
- Learn from the past – As stated earlier, The Masters is the only golf major that is played on the same course each year. That gives players who compete each year the advantage of learning how certain holes play during tournament conditions. The speed of greens, the bounces of the fairways, the wind and even the different “reactions from the crowd” all help to dictate the way to attack…or cautiously approach the course. Tiger has played almost 100 rounds of golf during the Masters and dozens of other rounds in practice. Every great shot and missed shot helps make the next shot easier to pull off.
- Have the confidence to execute when the pressure gets heavy – There might be no greater pressure in golf than that faced by players trying to win The Masters. Part of the day Sunday it looked like Woods was just staying patient and waiting for his competitors to make a mistake. When he finally grabbed the lead, he made one of his best swings of the tournament on hole #16, where he hit his 8-iron shot within a foot of the hole to secure a lead that he would not give up.
- Feed off your fans – It’s been said by anyone who attends The Masters in person (I have never been there), the “roars” you hear from the patrons echo through the pines and across the hilly landscape of the club. In the previous generation, a roar that arose for a great shot by Jack Nicklaus was said to be “different” than anyone else. The same is true for Tiger and even the viewers on TV can tell. There were several holes-in-one this week and those always draw thunderous ovations, but to watch the crowd rise in unison with their arms raised as Woods sank his birdie putt on #16, you could almost sense that Tiger was walking inches off the ground on his way up the hill to the 17th tee.
- Don’t be afraid to show emotion in victory – Much like “Arnie’s Army” and “Jack’s Pack” before him, Tiger has a legion of fans who love to cheer him on. It might even be said that Tiger has earned an entirely new generation of fans who never got to experience Tiger’s first run through history. Ever since the obstacles Woods encountered since his last major win in 2008, he has become a more personable and likable character. After his victory yesterday, he raised his fists, smiled and acknowledged the gallery of patrons who were cheering his name. “Tiger! Tiger! Tiger!” He gave high fives and smiles to all the adoring fans that lined his way to the clubhouse before he could slip on the green jacket one more time.
Fore, Please
While you may not be playing in The Masters this week, you are in the spotlight and aiming for victory every day. It might not be as simple as saying “one shot at a time” but perhaps the key to success might be “one call at a time,” “one conversation at a time, or even “one client at a time.”
When you look in your closet this week, take a peek in the pocket of that green jacket hanging in the corner. You just might find there’s a note from a pretty good player back in his day. On the crumpled up old scorecard are these words written by a scratchy old golf pencil…
Build relationships, solve problems, and have fun.
Photo Credit – Anthony Malafronte from My Tampa Agent
1 thought on “15 Things Realtors Can Learn from Tiger’s 15th Major”
Kelly ·
Nice post 👍🏼❤️!
What a day !!!!