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Brian Davis has had the kind of quiet career
that most would consider respectable, but not great. He turned pro in
1994, the same year he turned 20. Hailed at home as one of England's
rising stars in the golf world, his
career grew steadily but unremarkably as he played on the European Tour before
finally qualifying for the PGA in 2004.
Golf Pro Brian Davis  | On April 19, 2010, after 16
years of professional play, Davis
still had never won a PGA tournament. His luck seemed about to turn,
however, as an outstanding final round in the Verizon Heritage at Hilton Head, South Carolina
placed him in a sudden-death
playoff with PGA
great Jim Furyk. Davis
was finally -- finally -- poised to take his first
tour victory. It was everything he had been working for and dreaming of
for most of his life.
And then the unthinkable
happened.
While hitting onto the green,
Davis felt his 7-iron
brush a small reed in his backswing. Immediately, he called the
tournament director over, explained what had happened, and insisted that he be
penalized the standard two strokes under PGA Rule 13.4, which prohibits
"touching or moving a loose impediment." (Watch here.)
The Swing that Cost Davis First Place  | The violation was barely discernible, even
in slow-motion. But after reviewing video of Davis' play, officials were able to confirm
that a tiny twig had, in fact, been disturbed by his backswing. The penalty assured David he would finish second -- and
lose $411,000 that was the gap between the first and second place checks.
But no one -- not even Furyk, for whom
this victory at the Heritage was his 15th on the PGA tour -- considers Davis to have been the loser that day.
Tournament Director Slugger White
praised Davis'
honesty, insisting: "That will come back to him in spades, tenfold."
And in some ways, it already has. Almost immediately, Davis started receiving  voicemails, text messages, and emails thanking him for his honesty,
remarking on his integrity, and above all, congratulating him on being a solid
role model.
Davis has even received letters from school children talking about what
happened. "The letters and emails mostly just said 'I just wanted to
send you a note to say we need more people like you in sports,'" Davis told me during a
conversation last week when he played in the Tournament Players Championship."People saw it
as an example to the younger generation to make the right choices. I just saw
it as doing what I was supposed to do."
Tips from the Great Ones
Brian Davis could have easily
let the violation slide, since no one else had noticed it or called a
penalty. But Davis said that, out of the corner of his eye, he knew what
he'd seen on that backswing, knew what the rules of the game dictated, and knew
that his character was more important than a win. Greatness strives to
set an example.
 With a tournament victory would come a lot of
media attention.
But that was not
a title Davis
wanted to take knowing that he'd broken a rule -- even unwittingly. It hurt him to lose the match, but it would
have hurt him more to win under the circumstances. "You're not
playing for second, but playing to win. But I can hold my head up
high," he explained.
What kind of example are you
setting with your life? When the stakes are high and you know that people
are looking up to you, how do you act? The Great Ones understand that
what sets them apart is also what makes them role models, and they take that
responsibility seriously. They relish the chance to do the right thing.
Jim Furyk Hails Davis' Honesty  | When all the cameras were
pointed on him, Davis
knew he needed to act in a way that demonstrated integrity and character.
That stands in stark contrast to the biggest story in golf these last few
weeks... the return of Tiger Woods after a five-month self-imposed break from
the game prompted by his admitted infidelities. Even though Tiger knew
millions of people looked up to him, he chose to act in a dishonest and
irresponsible manner because, as he admitted, he felt he was above the rules
and the celebration of his success was more important than the honor of it.
Take some time today to consider not only who looks up to you, but why
and under what circumstances. Is there a co-worker at the office
who you know views you as a mentor? What about a child or a sibling who
looks up to you at home? How do you act in each of those settings that
makes you worthy of their attention -- and is there anything in
your behavior you wish they wouldn't strive to copy?
When
you know your example matters, make sure you make it count. It is a Great
person who places honor above winning, and Greatness is uncommon. Make
the decision today to stand out. |
