J.P. Hayes won’t be automatically qualified to
play in any of the PGA golf tournaments in 2009. He can thank his
honesty and integrity for that.
In the first round of the PGA qualifying school
last week -- an event in which the top finishers are granted tour
member status -- Hayes was playing good golf. But as he finished the
12th hole he noticed that he had just played the hole
with a different type ball than he had started the round with. (The
rules only allow a player to use the same type ball during each
round.) When Hayes detected the error, he immediately called a
two-stroke penalty on himself.
But then, at the end of the day, Hayes realized
that not only had he played a different ball, he might have played a
ball not even approved for play at all. “It was a Titleist [brand]
prototye, and somehow it had gotten into my bag,” he said. “It had
been four weeks since Titleist gave me some [of these] balls… I have
no idea how or why it was still in there.”
Playing a ball not approved by the PGA is grounds
for disqualification from a tournament. Hayes, knowing this, called
officials and told them of the unintentional error, knowing that it
would mean his automatic disqualification.
Gone were Hayes’ hopes for the 2009 tour. No more
automatic qualifying for at least the next 52 weeks.
John Wooden is credited with saying, “The true
test of a man’s character is what he does when no one is watching.”
Hayes certainly passed his test with flying colors, for he was the
only one who knew about his mistake. He could have simply ignored
his blunder. He could have rationalized to himself that it was his
caddy’s fault. (After all, the caddy was the one who handed him the
ball to play.) He could have told himself that the rule about
playing a particular ball was foolish. But he used none of these
excuses. He simply acknowledged his mistake and took the penalty.
What do we do when no other human is
watching? When we’re by ourselves, are we the same person as when
around others? When granted the opportunity to cheat, lie, or steal,
does our honor and uprightness shine through?
We live in an age when men are tempted to be
dishonest. The boss wants his employee to lie for him. The teenager
expects his peer to cover for his crime. The coach encourages his
players to do anything they can get by with without the referee
knowing. At other times, life’s circumstances themselves can
pressure us to be dishonest, especially if we‘re the only human
being that will know. (Of course, God knows, doesn‘t He?) When the
cashier hands us too much money back in change… When an answer
‘jumps off’ a fellow-student’s test page… When an uncatchable way to
‘cook the books’ presents itself at the office… What will we
do? In many circles honesty and integrity seem to be in short
supply. What will we do?
The Bible says, “Do not lie to one another, since
you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new
man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who
created him” (Colossians 3:9-10). Our Lord Jesus was the same honest
person when alone as He was among thousands -- and His disciples,
who are made according to His image, must be as well.
As Hayes, we must be of the character that, no
matter who is (or who is not) watching, we will serve our fellow man
and the Lord with all honesty and integrity -- “not with eyeservice,
as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God” (Colossians
3:22) -- even if such leads to our “own hurt” (Psalm 15:4).
