What Price Fame?

Ever heard of Brian Davis? If you’re a follower of pro golf, you might have. But even if you’re not, you may be hearing his name now. Brian was in a play-off for the win with Jim Furyk for the Verizon Heritage at Hilton Head yesterday. It could have been his first ever PGA win after 16 years as a pro. First. EVER.

Brian hit his ball into the rough on the first hole of the play-off. As he went to take his shot, he realized he’d brushed a weed on his back swing. Unavoidable – probably. Minor – not really. PGA rules state that you cannot move any surrounding material on your back swing. If you do, it’s a 2 stroke penalty. And for Brian, an automatic ending to his potential winning game.

Was it a particurlarly sharp-eyed official who called it? Nope – it was Brian himself. Standing there, in the weeds, all on his own, he called the official over and said “I think I have a penalty.” Called for the TV review himself. Owned up to his mistake and conceded the game to Jim Furyk. All out of his own sense of honor and honesty.

Now Brian is probably as famous as he’s ever going to be. Famous for coming in second at Hilton Head. Famous for doing the right thing. His choice cost him at least $685,000 (the difference between first and second place purses.) His choice also cost him his first PGA win, no small thing to a guy who’s been a pro as long as he has.

But what does Brian gain? One official says this will come back to him “in spades, tenfold” in reputation. One golf journalist alerts companies to the stupendous endorsement potential of this honest guy. I believe more of us will know his name now, than if he had won the tournament. I know I wouldn’t be blogging about him, if it weren’t for his act of honor.

But I think the most important thing Brian gained, he said best himself. One official said Brian’s remark on the course on why he called himself was “I could not have lived with myself if I had not.” At the end of the day, isn’t that what is most important? Can we live with ourselves – with the person God created us to be? Do our actions, in public and in private, allow us to live comfortably with ourselves and with our God? I know that would be my goal. I never want to hide or feel ashamed in the presence of my Father. I want to be able to stand in honor, no matter what the wordly cost.

I don’t know if Brian Davis is a Christ-follower. But I believe that, yesterday, he was a living example of what it means to be more like Christ. And more like the man God created him to be. Now that’s famous.

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