I enjoyed this article in the Golf Digest called “Momma’s boys” by Jaime Diaz recalling his need for his mother during a competitive Junior Golf Tournament. He said he fought against that as did not want to be called a Momma’s boy. He was ashamed about his feelings of need for his mother and he spent the rest of his adolescence pulling away as he thought that is what he needed to do. He knew it wounded his mother but he thought it necessary to be a normal male adult.

He says he came to regret that as each passing Mother’s Day it becomes clear that so much of who we are comes from our mother. He has examined how other Pro’s and their relationship to their mothers. He soon realized that a mother’s nurturing does not weaken the competitive drive as they need as much from their mother as they can get.

Arnold Palmer talks about his mother as being a very gentle, generous person and he sought her because she gave him balance against his father. As his father was tough and hard-core and refused to listen to his complaints. He said that no matter what she understood and that was so important and more important than he ever realized.

Tiger Woods says of his mother, that all his life it was the love and support she gave him and she was always been there for him. Fathers have always been the back up story to many golfing stars as they were always part of their game. But it is a reflective answer of many athlete when the camera is on them to say “Hi Mom” as least this has never happened very often in golf.

Tiger also said that he knew that if he went out there and put himself on the limb and failed, he always had love to come home to and not everyone has that. He knows that with her he will always have that love. The author of this article points out that men who are secure enough to be tender have the kind of self-esteem and intuition needed not only during a round of golf but in a lasting career.

Other famous golfers such as Francis Ouimet were especially close to their mothers who encouraged them all the way. She saw in him a talent and took him to a department store in 1900 to seem Harry Vardon the popular golfer from England. As time tells, thirteen years later Francis beat both Harry and Ted Ray in the U. S. Open in Brookline.

Sam Snead was the last of six children and he says from his mother he inherited her physical strength and country shrewdness. He said with all his siblings they always went to their mother first for help. There were several stories of other Pro’s and their relationship to their mothers. This was an enjoyable article for Mother’s Day and tells how mothers can influence their child to let them be what they want to be. Foremost love is always the most important gift you can give your child.