NEVER TOO LATE

Rory Mcllroy's nail-biting victory at The Masters completes his long-awaited career grand slam.

- JIM MCCABE

What is true about Rory Mcllroy's recent win at the Masters Tournament that completed a rare distinction - the career Grand Slam - is that it proves how our esteemed philosophers who came before us were true visionaries.

“It’s not the destination, it’s the journey.”

That profound thought is credited to an American essayist, writer, poet, and philosopher named Ralph Waldo Emerson. He lived from 1803-1882, didn’t care nor know a lick about golf, but he sure could comprehend the human spirit. Likely, Emerson would not be that intrigued by the April 13 playoff win over Justin Rose that enabled mcllroy to win his first green jacket and secure the career Grand Slam; but we're quite sure Emerson would have truly appreciated and understand why the vast majority of golf fans joined in the revelry and saluted mcllroy’s feat in an outpouring of emotions.

Golf fans specifically and people in general have no clue what it was like for mcllroy to survive a roller-coaster second nine that Sunday - a horrific double-bogey at 13, a momentous second shot to set up birdie at the 15th, a missed short putt at the 72nd hole that would have clinched victory - and win ina playoff. We aren't in possession of his talents so we can’t appreciate the athleticism that he is able to put forth almost on whim. Ah, but we can commiserate with his shortcomings, his failures, and his disappointments because those elements fill out lives, too.

In other words, mcllroy’s collapse to the 18th green in the playoff against Rose resonated with millions of fans around the world not because we can relate to his talents, but because we feel connected to his commitment to be resilient and to rise from the ashes of disappointment, challenges we face every day.