You won't see much of Appleton native JP Hayes on the PGA Tour next year. Hayes was eliminated from Qualifying School last week for a penalty he called on himself. Hayes was in the second stage of Q School in Texas when he noticed a ball he had put into play was not the same model with which he started the round. Hayes initially called a two-stroke penalty on himself at that time--in accordance with the rules of golf.
But after returning to his hotel following the round, JP took a closer look at the ball and found it was not on the list of those approved for play on the PGA Tour. Now remember, JP is by himself--nobody associated with the Q School, the Tour or any of his fellow competitors know about the rules violation and yet Hayes went to officials the next day and disqualified himself for using illegal equipment.
Don't think JP isn't going to suffer for this small act of honesty and honor. This season, the 125th ranked player on the PGA--the last to enjoy fully exempt status--made just under 826-thousand dollars. If Hayes had made it through Q School, he would have been fully exempt next year. Now he will have to hope for sponsors exemptions and Monday qualifying to make it into any tournaments on the Tour.
I wonder how many people would have had guts, the fortitude or the honor to make the same decision JP Hayes made last week in that hotel room? Think about it, would you give up the possibility of nearly a million dollars a year to come clean about a very minor transgression? I doubt there are many out there (probably mostly golfers) who would do that.
And JP is handling the situation with poise and class. In an interview last night with The Golf Channel, JP took full responsibility for using the illegal ball. He didn't blame the USGA for having a rule limiting what equipment can be used on the course. He doesn't think the PGA is being unfair for requiring players to go through qualifying to get on the Tour, he's not throwing his sponsor under the bus for giving him an un-approved ball to practice with, and he's not asking Congress for a bailout. JP Hayes says he has only himself to blame and he had to hold himself accountable. What a refreshing change in our society today.
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I would have missed this story, as I don't follow any sports or anything about sports figures. But I'm glad you posted it - it's good to know that somewhere out there are still people with integrity in the world.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the story. I will be rooting for J.P. Hayes even more in 2009. I hope the sponsors use their exemptions wisely and take into account the character of the person they choose. Please don't use a spot that J.P. Hayes deserves and give it to Michelle Wie, who is tied with me for Pro tounament wins........ ZERO !!!
ReplyDeleteThat is a very heart-warming story, and yet a sad one at the same time. Heart-warming that Mr. Hayes is a man of such integrity; sad that doing the right thing will cost him so. Thank you for sharing it, Jonathan.
ReplyDeleteI wish the UAW was a fair as J.P. Hayes. Maybe if they were, we wouldn't be in such a screwed up economy right now.
ReplyDeleteHe saw it commin... (From 2007)
I have previously written about how I believe that the useful time for unions has passed. This is a great example of how they can hurt American workers. They are pressing GM for further wages etc, in an environment where GM is marginally competitive already and struggling to survive.
Toyota workers are supposedly considering the union option as well. How fast do you suppose the Japanese would reduce or completely close their US operations if US workers decide to unionize?
They would never say that directly, but you can bet that they would not expand and would more likely reduce the scope of US operations if production costs go up too much.
The UAW is in a unique position. They are potentially able to destroy the entire US auto market by painting the auto makers into a corner on wages, benefits etc.
The UAW says they wants job security for their workers.
Causing the auto makers to become non-competitive and possibly close their doors is not the greatest way to go about this.
The thought of GM going under and dumping their pensions on the US taxpayers is not something that I would look forward to.
Wake up UAW and start thinking of the workers REAL needs.
Conservative Blogger said...
ReplyDeleteGM's pension is like a GIANT anchor around their neck.
Their production costs are gigantic compared to many other manufacturers. If they can't make a decent design that's a whole different story.
I can't speak to the management structure, but if it's too big then it should be trimmed as well (though I doubt its that fat). The bottom line is that even with a new hot design, GM has a hard time competing due to the benefits, pensions etc. that they have allowed the union to saddle them with. It's a cancer that is slowly killing them.
25 September, 2007 11:24
OMG, WHAT A TWISTED, SICK FREAK YOU ARE. ONLY SOMEONE WITH YOUR ANGRY, DEMENTED MIND COULD TURN SUCH A NICE STORY INTO ANOTHER PLATFORM FOR MORE OF YOUR MEANINGLESS, ENDLESS DRIVEL. GET A LIFE AND GET OVER IT BEFORE YOU GIVE YOURSELF AN ULCER, OR WORSE.
ReplyDelete