If the Garden of Eden had putting greens, it’d look something like the Augusta National Country Club, home of the Masters. The prestigious tournament got underway Thursday and already we’ve seen story lines echoing the pages and lessons of Scripture. 

The Redemption of Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods has won the Masters four times. In fact, he is arguably the greatest player to ever walk the perfectly-trimmed fairways. But his fall from grace was as lurid as any can imagine. Sampson with dozens of Delilahs all running to the tabloids. A betrayed wife wielding an iron on Tiger’s car. Sponsors fleeing. A game in tatters. A body in ruin. Ill-fated comebacks. An arrest. An addiction to pain-killers. Curtains for Tiger’s time among golfing’s elite.

Yet. Tiger Woods was back at Augusta Thursday. Did he have the greatest round? No. He went one-over-par. Yet he walked the course with something not seen when he was king of the clubs. Peace. The Tiger of today laughs. Smiles. Interacts with fans and other players. Surgery has repaired his chronically injured back. But it’s the inner healing too that not only makes him a contender this weekend but the emotional favorite.

Who doesn’t love a comeback?  Ask King David, who fell into adultery and murder, but was restored.

While I kept silence, my body wasted away
    through my groaning all day long.
For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
    my strength was dried up[a] as by the heat of summer.
Then I acknowledged my sin to you,
    and I did not hide my iniquity;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
    and you forgave the guilt of my sin. (Psalm 32:3-5)

David would go on to sing in Psalm 51:10, “Create in me a new heart and put a new and right spirit within me.” That’s one way to stay out of life’s bunkers, sand traps and water hazards.

Which gets us to Sergio Garcia.

The Up and Downs of Sergio Garcia

What did Paul say about holding steady through good times and bad? 

Not that I am referring to being in need; for I have learned to be content with whatever I have.
I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:11-13)

Sergio Garcia won the Masters last year. He had no reason to believe he wouldn’t contend again this year. And he was only one over par. Then came the 15th hole. 

Five times hit a shot onto the green. Five times he watched as the ball rolled into the water.  (If that sounds familiar, it echos a classic scene from the Kevin Costner film Tin Cup.) Each splash took him further and further from contention. 

With his 10th shot of the 15th hole, Sergio Garcia delivered his fifth consecutive ball into the water. #themasters https://t.co/Nj020wsUeB pic.twitter.com/kWA0XBSlUK

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) April 5, 2018

It took Garcia 13 shots to complete the hole. (An octuple bogey on the par five) This is the worst score ever for the 15th hole  in the history of the Masters. 

Afterwards, Garcia was mystified. “I kept hitting good shots with the sand wedge, and unfortunately — I don’t know why — the ball just wouldn’t stop.”

What happens when you do everything right, but it turns out wrong? When you end up in hot water, or in this case, cool water? Remember what the Lord said through the prophet Isaiah: “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown.” (Isaiah: 43:2)

And though it is not written in Proverbs, it might as well be: “And a bad day golfing still beats a good day at work.”

Tony Finau: One Day to the Next, One Moment to the Next

You don’t know what tomorrow will bring. For Tony Finau, you don’t even know what the next moment will bring. 

For about 30 seconds Wednesday, Tony was on top of the world. He was competing in the pre-Masters par-three competition. He lofted his tee shot toward the flag. The ball hit and rolled in. A hole-in-one! An exuberant Tony jumped up and down, ran down the fairway … and promptly dislocated his ankle. As ESPN noted, “the replay was enough to churn your stomach.”

Good grief, Tony Finau wrecked his ankle celebrating a hole in one pic.twitter.com/8o7JxVi3xQ

— CJ Fogler (@cjzero) April 4, 2018

The pain was excruciating. Somehow — and equally stomach-churning — Tony popped the ankle back into place. But how in the world would he be able to play in the tournament? If an MRI showed no damage and the swelling was under control, he would give it ago. 

Crazy day. Thanks for thoughts of concern, messages and prayers from all. I'm optimistic. https://t.co/m9y5T1a9Uy

— Tony Finau Golf (@tonyfinaugolf) April 5, 2018

The prayers worked. The MRI showed some ligament damage, but doctors said if he could handle the pain, he could play. Tony not only made it to the first tee, he played the full round. Not only did he play the full round, bum ankle and all, he went into locker room tied at the top of the leaderboard.(He starts the second round tied for second, two shots behind leader Jordan Spieth.

Tony told ESPN “There’s no way I thought I would be in this position.”

The Bible tells us with God “all things are possible.” That God says, “for I am the Lord that heals you.” And we know from the Bible that the Lord loves golf. After all, doesn’t it say in Revelation that he will rule “with a rod of iron”?  (Rev. 19:15, Rev. 2:27)