Notes 2 and 3

The Legend of Bagger Vance

In this sequence of The Legend of Bagger Vance, Will Smith plays a mysterious yet wise caddie for Matt Damon. After the great Walter Hagen sends his drive screaming down the fairway, Bobby Jones sets to tee off. Smith encourages Damon to study and analyze Jones' approach to his shot. Jones' relentless focus on his practice swing makes it seem as if he's "searching for something." The harmony of the swing clears his mind of the atmosphere around him, directing all focus to the next shot. As Jones delivers a powerful blow, his ball is flown through the sky and falls to the fairway. While Damon meanders to his ball, he conducts the same focus and attention to his "perfect shot." The surroundings seem to disintegrate from his view as the wind streams over the hills. The melodious music creates a solemn and majestic tone to the atmosphere. The world silences, awaiting the "perfect shot."   

A Step Forward

Tom Rinaldi's essay A Step Forward illustrates the excitement after Tiger Woods' latest victory. The desperation Woods had to win another tournament was unimaginable since he hadn't won in 923 days. Rinaldi stresses that in golf the importance lies on the "next". "The next swing, the next lie, the next read, the next stroke." The repetition of the phrase "the next" emphasizes a golfers need for a short term memory. Tiger's desperate yet confined expression leading up to victory hinted at his longing for the current moment. Woods' continuous ability to strike the accurate shot, eluded to the trust he had built into his swing. The beautiful spring Sunday symbolized what could be the resurrection of the greatest golfer ever lived.