A Lesson Learned: Preparing for the next generation of stars (PGA.com)
May 3, 2010
Rory McIlroy celebrates his record-breaking performance and his first PGA Tour win. (Photo: Getty Images)
There were some great storylines throughout the golf world this past week. Phil Mickelson is continuing his stellar play after his Masters win and was able to come in second this week at Quail Hollow. Tiger Woods showed that his golf game may have further to come back that he let on with two of his poorest ball-striking rounds that I can remember, missing the cut by nine shots. Ai Miyazato held off Michelle Wie and Stacy Lewis to win her third tournament of the year on the LPGA Tour. Ryo Ishikawa shot an unbelievable 58 to come from behind and win on the Japanese PGA Tour. And of course, Rory McIlroy set a course record with a 62 and won this week’s PGA Tour event.
It’s these last three winners that I mentioned that I want to discuss for this week’s A Lesson Learned. Ai Miyazato’s dominance thus far on the LPGA belies the fact that she is just 24 years old. Even more incredible, she is the oldest of the tri, as McIlroy turns 21 this week and Ryo Ishikawa is a mere 18 years of age. One more time, McIlroy and Ishikawa won Tour events this week – they are 38 years old combined!, and took 120 shots in their final rounds to win two titles. How amazing is that?!
This is an exciting time for golf, to see this crop of young stars, the new generation, finally rising up to accept the challenge that the Woods and Mickelsons have offered for a number of years. With Anthony Kim, Camilo Villegas and Rickie Fowler (among others), the PGA Tour is in good shape to host a number of superstars for years to come.
But there is one concern that I want to point out as we witness a possible changing of the guard in the world of golf. The more we see these young guns enjoying success, the more it’s critical that parents who are encouraging their young children to become prodigys go about getting their kids into the game the CORRECT way.
Parents, please keep in mind these three items:
1.) Make sure your kid loves the game as much as you do. The moment it becomes a chore for them, they are going to rebel against it. Don’t focus too much on results as much as the fun. If you see their interest fading, leave immediately. Make them WANT to come back, not see it as something they have to do in order to spend time with their parent.
2.) To be competitive today, you have to focus on Physical Fitness and a proper Diet. I can recall back in the mid 1970s, when I was making a run at playing professionally, we all made fun of Gary Player and his dedication to fitness and diet. Boy, little did we know! Today, in order to reach the top, you are going to have to be a world-class athlete as much as a golfer.
3.) Remember that golf, as much as we love it, as much fame and fortune can be had, is still a game. Let’s keep it a game. No one dies if you make a bogey on the final hole. Your not loved any more or less if you make that birdie putt. There are too many parents who treat their child’s golf round as a validation of their efforts in child rearing; it absolutely is not. If we can’t have fun playing golf of all things, than what’s the point of even picking up a club?
Part of the fun of being a golf fan is watching the next wave of stars make their way into the public consciousness. This past week, we certainly saw two young men and one young lady show that the next generation of stars are capable of things that would impress any audience at any time, in any era. It’s okay to see promise in your child and envision them assuming a place in the golf spotlight one day. But keep in mind the three caveats outlined above. Following all three won’t guarantee your child will be a star. But ignoring them will virtually guarantee that he/she won’t.
Charlie Sorrell is a PGA Master Professional and Director of Instruction at Crystal Lakes Golf Course in Hampton, Ga. Sorrell is one of the nation’s most awarded instructors, having been cited by numerous magazines and media outlets including being named the PGA National Teacher of the Year in 1990. Sorrell can be reached via his website at Sorrellgolf.com.
Tee it up with Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Golf 10