Tiger Woods Closed Out

TIGER WOODS CLOSED OUT the 1999 Professional Golf Association season with four straight tournament victories. When the 2000 PGA competition began, Woods continued his winning streak.

Following victories in the National Car Rental Classic, the Tour Championship, the American Express Championship, and the World Cup of Golf, the 24-year-old traveled to Hawaii for the Mercedes Championship. Tied after three days, Woods and Ernie Els matched each other stroke for stroke in the final round.

When Woods took a lead on the 10th hole, Els responded with a birdie on 11. On the final hole, a 633-yarder, Woods appeared to gain the upper hand by reaching the green in two shots. But using his 3 wood, Els guided his ball closer to the pin. Both golfers carded eagles on No. 18 to remain tied at 276 after four rounds.

Going to sudden death, Woods and Els recorded birdies on the first playoff hole. On the next hole, Woods sank a 40-foot downhill putt to edge his rival for the title. With the championship, he became the first PGA player to win five tournaments consecutively since Ben Hogan accomplished the feat in 1953.

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POINT Five in a row. Amazing!

Tiger Woods could have let down a little after his third or fourth win. He could have gotten tired. Traveling across the Pacific Ocean to Hawaii and fighting the time change could have made for a good excuse. But he maintained his zeal and enthusiastic devotion to his sport. He kept his fervor and emotional intensity throughout the contest and into the playoff.

When we begin a task in life, it’s easy to start off strong. We’re excited and give our all. After a while though, we let up some. We coast. We don’t work quite as hard as we could or should.

In the Bible Paul reminds us that we must never lose our zeal for serving God. We should be enthusiastically devoted to all the Lord wants us to do . . . no matter what.

GOAL! Ask the Father to lead you to do a simple service for him. It might be running errands for an elderly person or writing a letter to someone in the military.