[Opinion] The Last Round

They say there are 366 reasons for not playing golf as well as one would wish. In other words, there exist many excuses so that one more is left even after making an excuse 365 days a year. Various types of excuses exist. It starts from simple types: “I did not practice recently,” “It was a long time since I have come out on the course,” to change of equipment: “I changed my clubs,” “It is because I used new balls.” It goes on to a lack of the right conditions such as: “I drank a lot these days,” “I went to a funeral yesterday,” “My wife nagged me this morning.” But most of all, the agnosticism of “It is a bad day” is the highlight.

Another issue at this year’s Masters, concluded on April 12, was the veteran golfer Arnold Palmer(75)’s “last round.” Palmer, who played in the Masters for 50 consecutive years and won four championships while finishing 12 times in the top 10, celebrated his last round with a 24-over par, 168, finishing 92nd out of 93 players. He participated in every Masters without fail since his first playoffs in 1955, watching over two-thirds of the Masters history and making himself a living witness.

Foreign news commented that while Palmer was making his last round at Augusta National Golf Club, several thousand fans followed him through all 18 holes, clapping all the way. AP correspondence wrote, “His age of 75 was just a number.” Palmer, who sent his unique wink and hand gesture every time his fans supported him, said in a wavering voice, “Everything is finished. I won’t say that I’m happy because it’s all done. However, it is about time that I said this for myself,” after finishing his last round.

How would Palmer, who played with Tiger Woods who was not even born when he won four championships and participated every year although he did not make the cut after ranking 36th in 1983, have felt? What is clear is that he did not once make an excuse for his poor play. Palmer, who has a lifetime participation right, disappeared into a fairy tale after stepping down from the stage for the championship’s dignity by leaving these words, “An incompetent player is best not to participate in the Masters.”

Oh Myung-chul Editorial Writer oscar@donga.com