Why Lydia’s win was positively Churchillian
Don’t quote me on this but I’m pretty sure Lydia Ko is ready to be prime minister. Her win this week reminded me of Churchill’s comeback after his fatal decisions during World War 1. I wasn’t there but I did see the movie and there were tears, lashings of self-doubt and triumph over terrible odds. Just like Lydia. I’m ready to fight alongside her on the beaches or at the bar, elbowing people out the way so I can buy the champagne.
No, I’m not seriously comparing our star golfer Lydia Ko with Sir Winston Churchill. Although golf is like politics but with bigger balls. This week I took a great deal of satisfaction watching her win at the Mediheal Championship, her first since July, 2016. I didn’t fist pump or jump for joy – it’s ages since I’ve been to the gym and, at my age, sudden movements can cause as much damage as MP David Seymour on a dance floor. She is class and so I replied in kind, with a smile and nod to her resilience and perseverance.
Golf will either teach you some profound life lessons or can make you cry like the big baby you truly are. Why? Because you never win. The feeling is probably not dissimilar to what the Blues’ supporters are going through right now. The course is the champion, no matter how low your score. Every Like Sir Winston Churchill, Lydia Ko has overcome self-doubt to emerge victorious. game starts with new hope until the bad habits and patterns emerge and the swearing begins. A feeling of helplessness steals over you as you whisper, ‘I knew this would happen’.
The amazing thing about Ko is, despite multiple coach, swing and club changes, the former world No 1 never dropped out of the top 20. It’s easy to forget she’s 21 and still only at the start of her career. Golf is an endurance sport or a slow death if you’re playing badly. Changes mean your swing doesn’t feel as reliable and you doubt your choices. It’s routine that keeps the nerves at bay and the babble brain in neutral.
This is why Ko would make a great politician. She’s used to answering thousands of questions about what’s going wrong and media pulling apart her every move. Everyone has had an opinion and every part of her life has been examined.The 21-year-old somehow had to shut out all that and keep believing.
In fact, the government should seriously consider hiring her now. Think of all the trade deals she could do on the course.
Donald Trump has run America with a club in his hand, in between tweeting. OK, so doing business via the golf course is usually the blokes’ domain. But if she promises not to beat them so they’re not embarrassed by losing to a mere woman, New Zealand could use this to it’s advantage. No point in sorting out a game with Trump though because he only plays with himself.