PGA Championship

PGA Championship
By Jeremy Church

We all have ways to mourn the loss of loved ones. I have a friend whose family looks at funerals as celebrations, and everyone gets drunk. Stories are told, stories are retold. There’s the somber grievance approach, too. And there are all kinds of ways between, beyond and whatever works, whatever fits, seems fitting.

We all have ways to mourn the loss of loved ones; I’m not compelled to talk about the many ways and certainly not to pass judgment on them, but an Ian Woosnam quote responding to Paul McGinley’s decision to withdraw from this week’s PGA Championship so he can go to the funeral of his friend, Heather Clarke, who died Sunday of cancer, is irksome, especially in light of Padraig Harrington’s approach to the unfortunate situation---he will donate his earnings from the year’s final major to a charity of Darren Clarke’s choice.

Here’s the aforementioned quote from Woosnam, captain of this year’s European Ryder Cup team: “I can understand what he’s doing. That’s up to Paul. I know he’s very close to the family. Would Heather want Paul to do that, though?”

It must be noted that Darren Clarke, according to published reports, has urged other players to play this week.

Now here’s McGinley on the decision to play: “Some things are more important than the Ryder Cup. It was not really a big decision, it was a decision made quite easily, to be honest. Our families are very much intertwined.”

Athletes and public figures get quoted out of context all the time. I don’t want to do that. But questioning, in any way that is public (i.e., with a quick search, the aforementioned quotes appeared on many reputable web sites), McGinley’s choice not to play this week strikes me as inconsiderate, at least.