Golf

Garcia/Rose Show Amazing Display of Sportsmanship at Masters

By Jason Romano Apr 10, 2017

On Sunday, the Masters gave us one of the most dramatic finishes in the history of the legendary golf tournament. Sergio Garcia broke his drought of never winning a major and captured the hearts of golf fans all over the world by coming back from two shots down with six holes to play and winning the green jacket on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff against Justin Rose.

It was Sergio’s moment. Exorcising the demons that had haunted him in golf majors his entire career, Garcia was finally triumphant on golf’s biggest stage. “It’s been an amazing week,” Garcia said, “and I’m going to enjoy it for the rest of my life.”

But it wasn’t just about winning. In the midst of battling Rose for the Masters crown, something started to take place that we would not find out about until after the tournament was finished. Both Rose and Garcia were rooting for each other. They wanted what was best for their opponent. “We cheered for each other, Garcia said. “We both wanted to beat the other but we didn’t want the other to lose.”

Sportsmanship is something we strive for but is often is very difficult to practice. Proverbs 24:17-18 says “Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles, lest the Lord see it and be displeased, and turn away his anger from him.”

Garcia and Rose definitely did not rejoice when the other was stumbling. It’s the mark of a true champion when you handle winning and losing equally. When you handle the adversity and the setbacks the same as you do the triumphs and the achievements.

Grace and dignity are something that we need more of in this world. Sergio and Justin gave us a glimpse of that on Sunday in Augusta.

(PHOTO CREDIT: Tour Pro Golf Clubs)