MONDAY, APRIL 2, 2018
(Photo by Stan Badz/PGA TOUR)
Millions of golf fans will visit Masters.com this week, watching exclusive feature videos, live coverage of the tournament, and keeping track of the leaderboard. It’s a heady time for golfers, when our sport takes centerstage.
Visit the Players page, though, and you’ll come across a unique find. One golfer’s photo there features him wearing a WWJD bracelet, reminding him to ask himself, “What would Jesus do?” It’s a great way to hold oneself accountable to loving Jesus with our obedience to him.
That player is humble Augustan Larry Mize.
Just a year ago, when he was celebrating the 30th anniversary of his famous chip-in victory in extra holes over Seve Ballesteros and Greg Norman, we talked to Mize about his love for the tournament and the Lord. Here are some highlights from that interview:
– “Since the Masters was a major and such a big tournament, I didn’t feel like [big] expectations were really put on me. Everybody was glad I was there, but it wasn’t like, Oh, this is Larry’s home course and he should win here. I think that was good for me, and I don’t think I put too high expectations on myself. Obviously, you go into a tournament believing you can win and wanting to win, but I think it was a plus that it was a major, because the expectations were not as tough on me.”
– “I hope and don’t think that win changed me as a person. I’m still the same person, and I did not want to change in that regard. But as far as my career and everything, it was such a blessing. It opened doors, and the recognition it gave me was tremendous.”
– “Golf has been great and I love it, but it can’t compare to my relationship with Jesus. That’s first and foremost in my life.”
– “I really came to understand the gospel and that I was separated from God because he’s a perfect and holy God and I make mistakes and sin. This is why he sent his only Son to come and live a perfect life and be my sacrifice on the cross. Through Jesus, I’m right with God—not because of anything I do.”
– “You never know what tomorrow brings, but for right now, everything is better than we deserve. There is a famous quote that says, ‘I do not know what the future holds, but I do know who holds the future.’ My hope is in Jesus Christ and his love for me. He is holding my future.”