Yahoo News shared this unique story of honesty displayed by a golfer named Brian Davis.
"Brian Davis isn't the best-known name in golf -- or even the hundredth-best-known -- but after Sunday, he ought to move up the list a few notches. Davis was facing Jim Furyk in a playoff at the Verizon Heritage, and was trying to notch his first-ever PGA Tour win.
Davis's approach shot on the first hole of the playoff bounced off the green and nestled in among some weeds. (You can see the gunk he was hitting out of in that shot above.) When Davis tried to punch the ball up onto the green, his club may have grazed a stray weed on his backswing.
So what's the big deal? This: hitting any material around your ball during your backswing constitutes a violation of the rule against moving loose impediments, and is an immediate two-stroke penalty. And in a playoff, that means, in effect, game over.
Okay, you can think that's a silly penalty or whatever, but that's not the point of this story. The point is that Davis actually called the violation on himself."
Brian lost over $600,000 by reporting his violation, but I believe he actually won far more. He will not have to live the rest of his life with making a mistake of dishonesty. Integrity is all that matters at the end of the day. If we cannot face ourselves and the facts that only we know then how can we face God? I have heard all of my life that no one is going to get by with anything. Be sure your sins will find you out. So the better part of wisdom is to own up to the facts rather than cover them or deny them or lie about them.
Brian may have less in his bank account today, but the respect others have for him could not be higher.
Dear Milton Dykes,
ReplyDelete...it’s so interesting you call attention to the Brian Davis incident...I am an avid golfer who has written a book. The book is about character and virtue, not about golf. However, I do surround the character book with a storyline about golf and a group of golf buddies.
Golf is the one sport that has as its referee, the sole player of the game. Naturally, as many golfers will attest, the game is a ‘hotbed’ for character revelation. My book speaks about this hidden ‘level of understanding,’ where I believe all individuals will make a more virtuous decision, should they employ a tactic I call; HRP (Hesitate, Reflect, Practice). In many instances people make decisions based solely on self-interest. This self-interest is driven by; MPR (Money, Power, Recognition). I believe like you that a more virtuous choice in life ‘can’ be made, we just have to HRP. The ‘practice’ portion is much like grooving a golf swing... ;)
This is a great comment from you:
"If we cannot face ourselves and the facts that only we know then how can we face God?"
For those interested my book, it can be found on Amazon and B&N. Below is a comment I made to a girl in Minnesota, who had written an article about ‘Honesty.’ Here’s the link: http://www.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=19&a=449067
I discovered both your postings with my Google Alert for: Honesty as a Virtue.
*****
...you’ll be happy to know my upcoming book deals with, specifically, ‘Honesty.’ The title being ‘Honesty: Defined for the 21st Century,’ will be out in Winter-2010. One of the books chapters (true story), discusses the story of a teenager, like you, who upon finding over $1000 cash in an envelope...turned the money over to the police. The rightful owner identified the envelope and claimed their lost money. ‘John’ as I’ll call him, did not hesitate a fraction but knew his duty was to not keep the money but do everything possible (through the authorities), to see the rightful owner received their money back. The teenager had several reasons ‘why’ he did what he did...”the money wasn’t his,” “I felt bad for the owner of the money,” “they probably needed the money.” Needless to say, the ‘found money event,’ has changed the teenager’s life. Some ‘friends’ said he was a fool for turning the money in to the authorities. Obviously, he felt different. Currently, my book: ‘Character Happens! The 5 Most Important—But Fleeting Virtues (Amazon, B&N), discusses the ‘fleeting nature’ of Honesty, Integrity, Courage, Compassion and Humility. It’s a funny yet earnest storyline that will make you think.
You did well my friend in writing about Honesty. I wonder what sort of comments you’ll receive from your friends. Email me if you like: garry at characterhappens dot com.