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Mize's career second to faith
Posted: Tuesday April 08
By Ashlee Griggs
The Augusta Chronicle
Larry Mize said he used to think that if you were a good person, everything would turn out all right.
On Tuesday, he admitted he was wrong.
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Augusta native Larry Mizespoke at Tuesday's Augusta Golf Breakfast at Warren Baptist Church. The 1987 Masters Tournament champion said his faith allows him to keep a grip on life. KEVIN MARTIN/THE AUGUSTA CHRONICLE |
"You've got to have Jesus," he said.
Mize was the guest speaker at the annual Augusta Golf Breakfast held at Warren Baptist Church.
The Augusta native said winning the Masters Tournament in 1987 was a career highlight, but not as fulfilling as his relationship with Jesus.
"Winning the golf tournament pales in comparison to knowing Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior," Mize told a crowd of 600 Tuesday morning. "There's nothing greater I can do than share my love for Jesus Christ."
Growing up in Augusta, Mize loved the game of golf.
"Jack Nicklaus was my childhood idol," he said.
After graduating from Augusta Preparatory Day School, he played at Georgia Tech before earning his PGA Tour card at qualifying school.
Mize said his early years as a professional golfer were rough. It wasn't until he made God the focus of his life that his career began to soar.
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Ilean Taylor, of Birmingham, Ala., had Mize autograph a hat for her son, David, an Air Force pilot currently in Iraq. KEVIN MARTIN/THE AUGUSTA CHRONICLE |
With his boyish charm, Mize spoke candidly of his career successes and failures.
"You always believe you can win, but I didn't expect to win," Mize said of his Masters victory.
It was a moment many Augustans will never forget - the 140-foot chip shot in the sudden-death playoff against Greg Norman that secured his place among the elite in golf history.
But for those gathered Tuesday morning, Mize was more important as a good Christian than a great golfer.
It's spring break for Adam McKenney, but the Evans High School sophomore and a carful of his friends woke up early to hear Mize speak at the event co-sponsored by Warren Baptist and the Greater Augusta Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
"It was neat to hear him speak of his personal relationship with Jesus," Adam said.
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