For more than a decade, Tiger Woods and Sergio Garcia have been rivals on the PGA Tour. While both are ranked in the top of the world, Woods being number one and Garcia currently number 14, watching these two world class athletes is a lot of fun as a spectator with both being able to wow the crowds with their amazing talent.
Earlier this month at The Player's Championship, the Woods/Garcia rivalry turned ugly. The two were paired in the same group, and Garcia claims that in the middle of his swing, Woods got the crowd going when he pulled a club from his bag and prepared to hit a ball from out of the trees.
The two bickered to the press after the round, and most recently Woods said he had no intention of contacting Garcia to smooth things over. But just yesterday, Garcia added more fuel when he said, "He called me a whiner. That's probably right. It's also probably the first thing he's told you guys that's true in 15 years. I know what he is like. You guys are finding out."
He allegedly added to those comments last night when asked by a reporter if he would have dinner with Woods at the U.S. Open. He crossed the line when he said, "we will have him round every night. We will serve fried chicken."
It's shameful when you see two world class athletes like Tiger Woods and Sergio Garcia acting like babies. Respecting others is directly related to respecting yourself. You cannot give what you don't have, and respect falls directly into this category. Respecting other people is usually a hallmark characteristic of champions because they typically have great respect for themselves. The struggles and battles they have waged forged their confidence and character far beyond that of the average person. It's surprising and unfortunate for the game of golf to see these two beloved players taking shots at each other. When a champion is not shown respect, he should chalk it up to the other person's amateurish mentality.
Depending on whether they are operating primarily from spirit or ego, amateurs tend to be interested in the idea of revenge. Many amateurs believe their lack of success and fulfillment is someone else's fault, which leads to thoughts of getting even. Perhaps that's the predicament Sergio Garcia finds himself in right now as he has not been able to replicate the success of Tiger Woods. Unfortunately, this ego-driven consciousness is often responsible for someone's lack of personal fulfillment. We can't make that assumption about Sergio Garcia, however.
When a performer seeks revenge, he is usually operating out of fear, and his mindset says revenge on the other party will give him satisfaction. Amateurs also look for ego gratification in revenge. Their ego has been hurt, and they believe hitting back will repair the damage and allow them to save face. The cycle keeps repeating itself and delivers nothing but misery.
The world class, operating out of love and abundance, dismisses revenge as a strategy for people operating at a lower-level of awareness. The great ones know you can't fight hate with hate. The only power in the universe worth projecting is the power of love. The pros know if they are cheated by an amateur, it's to be expected because amateurs act out of fear. Their fear-based consciousness thinks irrationally, so their improper or unethical acts are to be expected. Champions feel empathy for amateurs, because all of the great ones are former amateurs themselves.
I for one hope that Tiger Woods and Sergio Garcia end this feud and get back to the business of playing golf. This kind of childish behavior is not good for anyone: not the PGA tour, the fans, the sponsors and the children watching at home who idolize these players.
Let this be a lesson to all to abandon any thoughts or plans of revenge. Don't confuse forgiveness with weakness; anyone can hold a grudge. It takes a person operating at a higher level of awareness to forgive. Be reminded that unfortunately, most people are operating out of a consciousness of fear and scarcity, which is probably the reason this individual cheated you.
The middle class performer broods and vows revenge when they feel cheated. The upper class performer attacks their abusers with the intent of inflicting pain. The world class performer forgives their enemies and sends them love, because the emotional pro knows that the emotional amateur knows not.