Tim Tebow Performs a Miracle at TPC Sawgrass

With only 54 days to THE PLAYERS Championship, Tim Tebow and his Foundation came to TPC Sawgrass for their 5^th Annual Celebrity Classic and carried out a miraculous transformation of the Stadium Course. The normally overly difficult, Dye-abolical, and unforgiving golf course was converted into a fun, engaging, and child-like playground. I have never seen anything like it in my past seven years of wandering around the home club of the world’s best golfers. And there may have been other miracles taking place.

How did he do it? The local boy turned Christian football icon rolled out the red carpet at the Clubhouse on Friday night. Celebrities, donors and kids with a WISH showed up to celebrate the good things in life, especially faith, hope and love. They came from all walks of life—golfers, boxers (Evander Holyfield), football players galore, basketball players (Artis Gilmore), country singers (Jake Owen & Kristy Lee Cook), The First Voice (Javier Colon) and even from the kitchen (Master Chef Whitney Miller). Okay, maybe it was mainly sports figures, sports broadcasters and entertainers. No politicians needed for these miracles.

Then on Saturday, the Heisman Trophy winner and soon-to- be-signed quarterback (my guess) calmed the waters on the Stadium Course and hosted a classic golf tournament unlike any other I have seen.

On the 15^th tee, World No. 5 Jason Day, took a cell phone from his playing amateur partner, after being asked if he FaceTime with his daughter, and said “sure.” On the 18^th green, World No. 17 Billy Horschel, after signing a bunch of autographs, stopped, turned around and asked if he “had got everyone.” This doesn’t happen in the Pro-Am during the PLAYERS, primarily because there is no Pro-Am during the PLAYERS, but it does happen at the Tim Tebow Celebrity Classic, the most intimate intermingling of celebrities, professional golfers and fans I have ever seen.

Each hole had an “activity” and “The Gauntlet,” the four finishing holes on the Stadium Course, were setup, in order,  as a “Corn Hole Challenge,” “Meet the Master Chef,” “Golf Skate Caddy,” and “Spectator Putt.” If running the Gauntlet to a PLAYERS Championship was only that easy—toss a corn bag, woof down a handful of Whitney’s crispy chickpeas, ride a golf skate up to the 17^th tee and pick out a spectator (hoping David Stockton is in your gallery) to drain the winning putt. Maybe if Jim Furyk had picked me on that 15-footer before the rain last year, he would have been in a playoff with Martin Kaymer? NOT, I wouldn’t have been able to get the putter back.

The Tim Tebow Foundation raised more than $4 million in the first four years. This year’s outing raised well over one-and-a-half million dollars. The money goes to making dreams come true for children with life threatening illnesses through the W15H program (everything’s a 15 for Tebow, his number at Florida and on the Denver Broncos), providing life-changing surgeries to the children of the Philippines through the Tebow CURE Hospital, building Timmy’s Playrooms in children’s hospitals around the world, supporting more than 2,000 orphans in four countries, sponsoring Night to Shine, a nationwide prom for people with special needs, and encouraging service to others through Team Tebow.

Tim and the Foundation’s mission is “to bring Faith, Hope, and Love to those needing a brighter day in their darkest hour of need.” He referenced this verbatim in his media interview and it is easy to see it not only in print and in his words but in his heart, his soul through his eyes and everywhere around TPC Sawgrass on a blessedly beautiful day.

The grassy green grounds of TPC Sawgrass has never looked better to me this early in the year. This year, undoubtedly the 41^st PLAYERS will be the best ever in terms of playing conditions, field strength, entire entertainment for the guests and most importantly, charitable dollars raised.

There is definitely a winning formula at TPC Sawgrass with golf and charity fundraising.

Maybe Tim Tebow did not perform a miracle at TPC Sawgrass, but the Tim Tebow Foundation has and will continue to do so for sure. Just ask some of the children and their parents that have benefited around the world.

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Postscript:

Oh, did you catch the “soon-to-be signed” reference? Only my opinion. No expert here, just a hunch from being around the media hounds and being present and listening closely to Tim’s interviews. Tebow, when pressed by the great Jacksonville sportswriter Garry Smits, stated that he did not apply for the first-ever NFL Veteran Combine. That is why his name is not on the list of participants that was recently released. Though he quickly followed with “I feel like I am in great shape,” and definitely looked like he was. Subsequent to his media interview I see he tried out for the Eagles but no contract was signed.

His situation points out one of the differences between golf and football. In my opinion, the raw deal Tebow got in Denver happens in the NFL but not on the PGA Tour. Once an opportunity to play on any tour is earned in golf it is given to the deserving player. Not so in football. Maybe the NFL has an opportunity to learn something here. When a guy takes over a 1-4 team at halftime and leads them to the playoffs and wins a game against the Steelers he deserves a chance the following season. Granted in golf, success one year does not guarantee success the following year but it does give a player status and the opportunity to compete.

From what I saw of Tim’s (and his brother Robby) golf game, maybe he should give golf a go?

I hope Tim Tebow gets that opportunity in football, he deserves it!