| "I came from a Christian family that was pretty active. As I grew older, we went to church Sunday morning and Sunday night. My dad was a deacon in the church, so we were fairly active. But I got away from that as I grew older.
Growing up in Augusta, golf was my dream. That's what I always wanted to do. It became more important than anything. As I got into my teen years, I didn't go to church as much. I'd still go some Sundays, and I still believed, but it was more an intellectual belief. I didn't have Christ in my heart; I had Him in my head. He was second to golf - unfortunately.
That continued as I played golf. I was fortunate to get to play golf at Georgia Tech. And I was fortunate to get on the PGA Tour after three tries at Tour School. Then I married a wonderful girl from Columbus, where we live now. Everything was great on the Tour. I just always though I'd go out there and be famous and make a lot of money. I won the Memphis Classic in 1983 when I was twenty-four. Then I continued to play really well. I didn't win any tournaments the next couple of years, but I played super.
The event in my life that God used to get my attention was the birth of my first child in 1986.
When I was in the delivery room - like a lot of fathers do these days - and witnessed the miracle of birth, what an experience it was for me! Just being in the delivery room was unbelievable. And to see the miracle, to see my first child be born, I can't tell you how emotional it was.
Later, in the hospital room, when I was holding David, God was letting me know: "Hey! Gold's important - it's how you make a living, and you need to work hard at it - but the most important thing is getting your life right with Jesus Christ and giving Him charge of your life."
I realized, at that moment, it was time to get Jesus in my heart rather than in my head.
Prior to that moment, I believed in God. I believed in Jesus. But I didn't do anything about it. The best way to explain it is to say that it was an intellectual belief. That day it became a heartfelt belief. That day I began trusting in God and trusting Jesus Christ with my life.
All of a sudden, instead of wanting to play golf for me and to glorify myself in golf, I had to play golf for Him. I had to win tournaments to give Him the glory and to let people know what's really important.
One of my greatest thrills in golf was winning the Masters and one of the neat things about that was the fact that it gave me the opportunity to share my faith and say, "Hey! Christians aren't these little complacen, wimpy people. Christians are competitive, and I'm competitive. I'm a winner in this world, and I'm very successful - but I still have that personal relationship with Jesus Christ. And that relationship is the most important thing to me. Living my life for Him and pleasing Him is the most important thing."
One of my favorite Scriptures is John 12:42-43, where it talks about how the Pharisees believed in Him, but they weren't professing Him because they were afraid of being put out of the synagogue. In verse 43 it says, "for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God."
That verse really hit me hard for the first time in 1990 at one of our Larry Moody - led Bible studies on Wednesday nights. We were working through the Book of John that year, and I realized I was trying to please people. Instead, my number one goal should be to please God. Matthew 6:33 says, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you."
I still fall short, but I still keep working toward living my life in Him and glorify Him - whether it is on the golf course or at home with my family or whatever I'm doing.
I can't do anything to earn my way to heaven; I can't do anything to earn my good grace with God - it's all His free gift. I'm just very grateful for that, and I work hard to keep things in perspective.
There's nothing to compare to it. I'm such a happy, more joyful person now. I'm so much more peaceful and content that I was before, because I understand things better. I think I've got the best of all worlds; I get to share the love of God, and I get to play golf for a living! It doesn't get any better than that!
Without Christ, the golf tour is always: "What have you done for me lately? It's easy to get beat up out here. It's a great way to make a living, but it is also tough at times. Sure, everything has its good and bad sides. But I've got way too much to be thankful for. I've got a wonderful family, three great boys, a wonderful wife, and a God who loves me no matter what. Gee! I don't deserve it.
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