What We Can Learn From K.J. Choi

It may appear that K.J. Choi was the lucky player that made the putt on the 18^th hole in yesterday’s Skins Game, but the truth is Choi played the best golf for two days and deserved to win the big money.

Andy North’s commentary on Saturday, the first day of the Skins Game, was emphasizing hitting the right shot at the right time and getting lucky in order to win the big skins.  During the coverage on Sunday, however, North kept talking about the importance of continually hitting good shot after good shot.

What changed his tune?

Perhaps it was the play of Choi.  Choi’s tee shots hit the center of most fairways and his approach shots were all right on target.  The few shots that he didn’t hit right next to the hole were off on distance only; they still were right on line with the flag.

There is an old phrase often uttered before any contest of skill: “May the best man win.”  That phrase can be interpreted different ways, but I always take it as an expression of hope that the winner is the one who actually plays the best.  Often times in sports, the best player doesn’t win.  Often times, luck determines the winner.

Choi played the best golf for the 18-hole Skins Game.  As North was saying all day, he gave himself opportunity after opportunity to win skins.  He didn’t win them all, but he was bound to win several with such a relentless, precise game of golf.

There is another old saying: “Luck favors the well prepared.”  Choi’s good play serves as a lesson to all of us that if we keep working hard in golf and in life, keep playing the game the way we should play it, we will have our opportunity to win eventually.