Is there a different definition of ‘competitive’ for each person, or is it an objective moniker on a subjective study? Well crap, I guess I just gave away the answer. Rhetoric is a familiar medium to a teacher. My bad. I have something to say about competition because it has been a familiar component of my life. I have competed plenty. But, as I have recalled my history in successful competition, I realize now that it was never about the competition.

It was about making my Dad proud. Can you relate? I competed because I was good at it. I was good at it because I had something very important to win – dad’s pride. My motivation, however, was never to measure myself against other golfers. I cannot claim the Ty Webb answer, “By height”. My motivation was personal, like everyone else’s. But it was unique to a segment of competitive golfers beyond, but like, myself.

It follows that without motivation, the desire to compete is diminished. Desire, or more specifically intention, is at the center of every achievement. By feeding one’s motivation, competition can be seen not as the fuel, but the vehicle. My point is that competition is incidental to EVERY tournament golfer. Competition and competitiveness has always been about reaching a larger goal. Byron Nelson wanted to buy a farm. He competed because there were more important things in his life than the field of battle. Competition was a means to an end then, and now.

Let’s face it, no one is giving back trophies and cashiers checks in the world of golf. No one competes to measure themselves and their games in a vacuum. No one passes up an interview when they have won a tournament or played a good round of golf. My view is – don’t belittle the motivation. It’s all good. It’s all natural. It’s just different for different people at different levels at different times in their lives. But, it doesn’t matter what the motivation is as long as it produces a focus and persistence sufficient to reach the ultimate goal. Such is everything in life.

Is there a difference in appearance between being intellectual and competitive, determined and competitive, aggressive and competitive, secure and competitive? I think the word competitive can be subdivided into these four categories. People need a life condition that allows what is most forceful in them to bubble to the surface. There is a trigger inside every golfer that produces a motivation for competing. That trigger may be confused with its expression inside golf, but it is always a passenger looking for a vehicle. Golf is just a vehicle for achievement – like anything else worth doing.

John Wright – Founder
The Open Stance Academy