In 2001, When Karrie Webb

IN 2001, WHEN KARRIE WEBB accomplished one of the most amazing feats in golf, it came with a bittersweet ending. During the first day of the LPGA Championship, Webb’s 71-year-old grandfather, Mick Collinson, suffered an unexpected stroke. After Saturday’s third round, Karrie learned Collinson had taken a turn for the worse.

Webb considered skipping the LPGA Championship’s final round and returning to Australia. But about seven hours before her tee time, she decided to compete. To reduce media hype, she and caddie Mike Patterson kept the news to themselves.

The 26-year-old golfer held a three-stroke lead as the tournament entered the last day. Playing with stoic determination, Webb birdied three of the first four holes, upping her spread to six. Laura Diaz closed with four birdies on the back nine, but Webb carded a 69 for a 270 total, claiming first place and her fifth Grand Slam by two strokes.

As soon as Webb tapped in her last putt, tears flowed. As much as she wanted to be with her family, she knew her grandfather wouldn’t want her to miss a possible LPGA title. Her grandpa had taken her with him to play nine holes of golf every weekend since she was four years old. He owned a toy store and gave her plastic clubs, pulling her in a wagon when she got tired. He helped her struggle through 152 strokes on her first 18 holes at age eight, and for her 12th birthday he gave her a plane ticket to see Greg Norman play.

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POINT Mick Collinson died a few hours before his adoring granddaughter reached Australia. He never knew she had become the youngest woman ever to complete a career Grand Slam and one of only five women ever to do it. But Karrie dedicated the tournament to her grandfather, repaying him the only way she knew how—by playing the sport he taught her to love.

God gives some of us very special grandparents. The apostle Paul wrote Timothy that repaying them pleases the heavenly Father.

GOAL! If you can, plan a way to help repay your grandparents or other mentors in your life. It could be simple like a letter or something more elaborate. Thank God for grandparents.