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EDITORIAL: Wisconsin pride in J.P. Hayes
A role model from Wisconsin for children.
FOR ALL THOSE among us who lament the coarsening of American culture, where it often seems not to be about right vs. wrong, but about what one can get away with, consider:
J.P. Hayes, a nationally known golfer from Appleton, was playing for his professional life. His game slipped last year, and to continue playing on the PGA Tour, Hayes needed a good finish in a qualifying tournament last week in Texas. He was playing good enough to succeed.
Then he noticed the ball.
SOMEHOW, HAYES' caddie had handed him the wrong ball and he had played it. First, on the course, he called a penalty on himself and an official assessed a two-stroke loss. Later, in his hotel room, Hayes reflected on the mistake and thought it was possible the ball he played in error could be considered non-conforming - a more serious violation of the rules.
He could have gone to sleep and forgotten the whole thing. After all, he reported it to an official who made a ruling. Case closed.
Not good enough. Hayes reported himself, again.
Upon investigation, the ball indeed was deemed non-conforming and Hayes was disqualified. The DQ cost Hayes his opportunity to win an exemption on tour next year. He will be ineligible for full-time PGA play.
That could cost him hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars.
IT'S WHAT MAKES golf unique in an age when professional athletes in other sports so often appear spoiled, sullen, selfish and insensitive to being role models. Those athletes become poster boys for the ugly, strutting, me-first, to-hell-with-everybody-else culture of millionaire misfits.
Meanwhile, golf remains a sport defined by personal honor, integrity and class.
Wisconsin should be proud of J.P. Hayes.
Parents should hold him up as a true example for their children.
Believe it. Honor matters.
FOR ALL THOSE among us who lament the coarsening of American culture, where it often seems not to be about right vs. wrong, but about what one can get away with, consider:
J.P. Hayes, a nationally known golfer from Appleton, was playing for his professional life. His game slipped last year, and to continue playing on the PGA Tour, Hayes needed a good finish in a qualifying tournament last week in Texas. He was playing good enough to succeed.
Then he noticed the ball.
SOMEHOW, HAYES' caddie had handed him the wrong ball and he had played it. First, on the course, he called a penalty on himself and an official assessed a two-stroke loss. Later, in his hotel room, Hayes reflected on the mistake and thought it was possible the ball he played in error could be considered non-conforming - a more serious violation of the rules.
He could have gone to sleep and forgotten the whole thing. After all, he reported it to an official who made a ruling. Case closed.
Not good enough. Hayes reported himself, again.
Upon investigation, the ball indeed was deemed non-conforming and Hayes was disqualified. The DQ cost Hayes his opportunity to win an exemption on tour next year. He will be ineligible for full-time PGA play.
That could cost him hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars.
IT'S WHAT MAKES golf unique in an age when professional athletes in other sports so often appear spoiled, sullen, selfish and insensitive to being role models. Those athletes become poster boys for the ugly, strutting, me-first, to-hell-with-everybody-else culture of millionaire misfits.
Meanwhile, golf remains a sport defined by personal honor, integrity and class.
Wisconsin should be proud of J.P. Hayes.
Parents should hold him up as a true example for their children.
Believe it. Honor matters.
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