Winning One Of Golf’s

WINNING ONE OF GOLF’S four major tournaments isn’t easy. A player must have his A-game going to win the Masters, U.S. Open, British Open, or PGA Championship. But in 1998, it was Mark O’Meara’s patience that helped bring him a well-deserved Masters victory.

The 41-year-old golfer had participated in 56 major championships without a single triumph. As he neared completion of his final round at Augusta National, it appeared the string would run to 57.

David Duval and Fred Couples battled fiercely for the top. Through eight holes on the final day, Couples led by five. Six holes later, however, Duval moved in front by two. Couples pulled even with an eagle on 15 as Duval three-putted the 16th for bogey.

Their neck and neck struggle set the stage for O’Meara’s remarkable finish. Both Couples and Duval missed birdie putts on 17. On the same hole, however, O’Meara chipped to within seven feet and dropped his putt to tie the other golfers with a birdie.

With the score knotted, a playoff seemed unavoidable. Duval couldn’t nail a 20-foot birdie opportunity at 18 and finished 8-under at 280. Couples also fell victim to No. 18 by driving into a bunker and barely salvaging par.

Meanwhile, O’Meara curled in his 20-foot birdie putt on the final hole. The shot gave him the lead for the only time in the tournament at 9-under-par.

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POINT Mark O’Meara finally won the Masters after his 15th try, the most for any first-time champion. Later in July, he won the British Open, becoming the oldest player to win two major tournaments in the same year. Though he had won some professional tournaments, O’Meara waited 18 years to claim a major.

The golfer could have lost heart. He could have become impatient and left the tour. But Mark O’Meara didn’t. His patience served him well.

Ask people what character quality is their greatest struggle, and many will say patience. We dislike standing in line. We look at our watch as we nuke popcorn. We flip the TV remote during commercials. We grow weary during a long sermon.

King David of the Bible must have struggled with patience too. When life became difficult, he sang psalms of waiting.

GOAL! Try to catch yourself in impatient habits such as looking at the clock or sighing when it’s someone else’s turn. Commit to changing those reactions. Ask God for patience.