Young Tom, Old Tom and ‘tom’orrow.

During the recent 2010 British Open Golf Championship at historic St. Andrews, a story was told of Old Tom Morris and Young Tom Morris.

Both were multiple time winners of the Championship and both have amazing stories.

At the height of the golfing season it seems theirs is a fitting story tonight.

Old Tom designed or had a hand in designing 75 courses and is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame.  He won the Championship in 1861, 62, 64 and 67.

Old Tom had a son who was equally as prestigious.  Young Tom Morris won the Championship in 1868, 69, 70 and 72 and was destined for greatness.

Why am I telling you this story?

You see Young Tom had a wife and child who very tragically both died during childbirth complications.  Young Tom, aged 24,  died just a few months later in 1875 from an unknown cause, but most people blamed it on a broken heart.  Old Tom continued forward until his passing in 1908 some 33 years later.

The TV broadcast of the Championship included a re-enactment of Old Tom visiting his son’s grave and sharing some words with Young Tom who had died so young and at the very beginning steps of his adult journey.

Paraphrased, he stated, “Son, they say that you died of a broken heart.  Only I know that is impossible.”

He was inferring that his own heart was broken.  His son simply could not have died from a broken heart otherwise he would have suffered the same fate.

Old Tom, I sorta know how you feel.  With broken hearts we carry on.

That is how Old Tom honoured his son, and that’s how I will honour mine…and I know so many of you feel the same.

I LOVE this quote from Old Tom Morris.

“For true success, it matters what our goals are. And it matters how we go about attaining them. The means are as important as the ends. How we get there is as important as where we go.”

I think if he was living today, Old Tom just might add…Be The Best!