Playing Through Pain

A great deal has been made of the fact that Tiger Woods broke down into tears after winning the British Open yesterday and that runner-up Chris DeMarco was also playing while in pain. Both had suffered the tragic lost of parents. Tiger lost his Dad a couple of months ago to cancer and Chris lost his Mom earlier this month to a heart attack. Both of them felt that their parent was with them throughout the tournament. It was heartbreaking to see Tiger break down into tears after the win knowing that his Dad wasn't there to see him take the cup.

What amazes me is the press with their cameras in his face catching the tears and the speculating before the event started that Tiger wouldn't have the mental toughness to play again with his normal vigor. It is as if they forgot the athlete he has always been and when they find themselves caught off guard to find out that he was human after all. They built up the image of Tiger as a golf swinging machine and forgot the man.

Both Tiger and Chris felt the pain that losing a parent beings. I know even after all this time I grieve for my Dad and wish he were here to show the new art work to and get his opinions on the stories. There is a hurt inside from a loss of a parent that will never be filled. All you can do is soldier on the way Tiger and Chris did and know that your parent is there in spirit. The hard part comes in not being able to hug that spirit afterwards.