Hitting A Golf Ball

HITTING A GOLF BALL into the branches of a tree usually results in two extra strokes. But in the 1998 United States Open, a timely gust of wind that shook the branches of a cypress pine prevented a costly bogey for Lee Janzen.

The 33-year-old golfer trailed tournament leader Payne Stewart by five strokes after the third round. Two bogeys on the first three holes on Sunday upped the margin to seven.

But Janzen turned things around on the 457-yard, par-4 fifth hole. His drive stuck the ball high in the branches of a tree lining the fairway. With Janzen already heading back to the box to hit a second drive, word came to him that a breeze had swayed the boughs, and the ball had dropped from the sky. The unusual event allowed Lee to chip for par instead of taking a double bogey.

Later on Stewart struggled. Bogeys on 12 and 13 knocked him from the lead, while Janzen forged ahead with birdies on 11, 13, 14, and 16. He closed with pars on 17 and 18, finishing the day with 68 and a total of 280.

Stewart trailed by one stroke on the final hole. He needed a 25-foot downhill putt for a birdie and a tie. But his ball broke low and rolled to the left. Janzen, watching the action on television from the clubhouse, breathed a sigh of relief and claimed the championship.

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POINT Nature, in the form of a tree, almost cost Lee Janzen the U.S. Open. And then nature, in the form of the wind, helped him save par and propelled him to the title. Golf courses utilize trees, sand, grass, water, and other natural objects to beautify the setting and challenge the players.

God’s creation beautifies our lives, too. The book of Genesis describes how God created the world. He made plants and trees, and it’s a good thing he did. We benefit in so many ways—whether building houses from wood or eating a piece of fruit—from God’s creation.

GOAL! The next time you eat a piece of fruit, thank God for his creation. Ask him to help you live a fruitful life for him.