At the right time

I was very pleased to hear the news of how Juvic Pagunsan fared at the qualifying tournament for the Asian Tour last week. On his first try in a tournament as a professional golfer, he not only qualified to play the Tour but he was able to display through his daily scores the quality of a player that he truly is. Doing this on one’s first attempt is not only a feat but it could also be an indication of what is to come.

His peers have said that his decision to turn pro was a bit too late in his career as a golfer. Some of them had mentioned that he should have done it earlier when he was younger and probably "hungrier". I am one to believe otherwise. You see golf for me — or at least my experience of it — is in many ways a lot like life. How it is played is very similar to how one’s life is lived.

During a game, the "timing" not just of your swing but of when to "go for it" is crucial to the outcome of your score for the day. Many times, waiting for the opportunity to go for the birdies and eagles just present themselves. And the more ready and prepared you are for your task at hand, you will find that these opportunities present themselves more and more throughout the day.

Juvic could have turned pro earlier if he wished to. I am almost certain that many sponsors were just waiting to take such a talented young golfer under their care. But he opted to wait. He chose to represent the country in a few more tournaments and this gained him the experience that he knew would actually help him pursue his professional career successfully. He didn’t just turn pro because there was nothing better left for him to do. He wanted to continue to pursue what he loved doing and worked at being fully prepared when the time would come for him to make the step.

The manner by which he carried the Philippine Team to victory in the last SEA Games was a clear indication that his time had come and he was ready.

The tendency of most of us today is to rush and do things for fear of "missing the boat" or an opportunity.

But life has taught me that it is more difficult to recover from having done things too early rather than too late.

The whole process of doing something for the sake of it is much more possible when you are not trying to run after the "right time". And though success is not guaranteed either way, doing it in this fashion gives one a better chance of enjoying the journey as a pro whatever the day’s result may bring.

For the life of a professional golfer is one that is far from glamorous. It’s extremely tough on the body as well as it is on the mind. Not to mention that it also requires one to be away from home for an extended period of time.

However, if one is doing what he truly loves and has had the discipline to prepare himself well for it, it is a journey that is certainly well worth taking.

From the looks of it, Juvic seems to have done his homework well. It looks like Philippine golf is now ready to welcome another golfing hero. Let us all wish him the best.