What drives Hale Irwin?
The mystery of the game.
In this story in the Sun Sentinel, Irwin says that
“By the time I die, I will have figured out how to play this game,” Irwin said. “And I’m still learning. That’s the way I’ve approached golf. I still have so much to learn, but I’m running out of time.
“By the time I get there, I will have it all perfected. It’s just that by the time I get there, my body won’t let me do it.”
That’s the best attitude on the game of golf I’ve heard in a long time. It’s not about winning, or beating someone; its a Zen-like mission of self discovery.
I play for the same reason, and eschew tournaments—or often, even playing in a group. Golf for me is best when I’m by myself, finding my swing, with no one to watch. No one knows how I did but me, and I’m the only one that matters.
