Rory's Roller Coaster Ride

Rory McIlroy won a thrilling and dramatic Masters on Sunday in one of the most epic tournaments we’ve seen.

He secured his first Green Jacket while also completing the career Grand Slam, joining Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods as the only golfers to win all four majors during their career.

Rory’s golf journey, this year’s Masters, and especially Sunday’s final round can all be described as a roller coaster ride filled with ups and downs, highs and lows.

The headlines read:

“Rory McIlroy’s Rollercoaster Breakthrough was the Masters at its Finest” (New York Post)

“Rory Coaster Ride Nets Masters Win, Career Slam” (ESPN.COM)  

“Breaking Down Rory McIlroy’s Rollercoaster Round to Win the Masters” (Yahoo Sports)

He had gotten off to a solid start this season, and heading into this year’s Masters, Rory was one of the favorites to win. But during the first round on Thursday, he double-bogeyed two of his last four holes to fall seven shots back.

Over the next three days, Rory hit brilliant shots that moved him up the leaderboard and then crazy double bogeys that sent him back down.

On Sunday, he started the day on top of the leaderboard with a 2-stroke lead and double-bogeyed the first hole but birdied holes 3 and 4.

Following his birdies on holes 9 and 10, Rory bogeyed 11 but still had a four-shot lead. Then it appeared that things might unravel as he double-bogeyed 13 after hitting his shot in the water and was suddenly tied with Justin Rose at -11.

After bogeying hole 14 and getting a birdie on 15 and 17, Rory eventually had a putt for par on 18 to win the tournament but missed and got a bogey, sending him and Justin Rose into a playoff. However, Rory was able to make the birdie putt on the 18th hole and get the win.

It was a roller coaster ride all day on Sunday and throughout the tournament, and the patrons at Augusta and the fans at home were riding the ups and downs with him the entire time!

The roller coaster ride was exciting and exhausting, but we shouldn’t be surprised that Rory could experience the highs and lows and, ultimately, a victory.

He burst onto the scene as a young superstar, winning four majors between 2011 and 2014, all by age 25, and quickly making his way to the top of the golf world. However, over the next decade, Rory didn’t win another major, dealing with the disappointment, pressure, expectations, and criticism of no longer being on top.

Before the Masters began, he shared, “When you have a long career like I have had, luckily, you sort of just learn to roll with the punches, the good times, the bad times, knowing that if you do the right work and you practice the right way, that those disappointments will turn into good times again pretty soon.”

After the Masters win, during the post-round analysis on the Golf Channel, I heard analyst and former pro, Brandel Chamblee give this perspective about Rory: “He won big early on without becoming arrogant, which is not easy…without becoming entitled…then he also lost in such big and memorable and painful ways without becoming bitter, and that’s really hard.”

The way Rory has handled his rollercoaster career is how he embraced his roller coaster Masters experience as well.

So, how about us? How do we respond when life is great and we’re on top…and what happens when life is hard and discouraging and we’re at the bottom?

As followers of Jesus, even though our circumstances might be up and down, our heart posture, mindset, and attitude can remain the same. We must embrace that our life is an adventure and shouldn’t be surprised our journey often feels like a roller coaster.

The good news is that Jesus is with us and is always the same whether we’re on the mountaintop or in the valley. God uses both the highs and lows to grow us, test us, and accomplish His purposes.

As we trust in Him, we don’t have to become arrogant when things are going well or bitter when life is hard, and we can keep the proper perspective with contentment regardless of whether we’re hitting “birdies” or “double bogeys.”

As Paul explains in Philippians 4:11-13 (AMP), “Not that I speak from [any personal] need, for I have learned to be content [and self-sufficient through Christ, satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or uneasy] regardless of my circumstances.

“I know how to get along and live humbly [in difficult times], and I also know how to enjoy abundance and live in prosperity. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret [of facing life], whether well-fed or going hungry, whether having an abundance or being in need.

“I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfill His purpose—I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency; I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace.]”

Today, we don’t have to close our eyes on this roller coaster ride of life, but we must keep our eyes open and fixed on Jesus, knowing the ride with Him is ultimately a victory!

I’m Bryce Johnson, and you can UNPACK that!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I don’t like when life seems like a roller coaster ride, but thank you for sending Jesus to rescue me. Please help me experience contentment as I find my strength in Him. Show me how to keep the same heart posture, attitude, and mindset, whether on the mountaintop or the valley, as I remain surrendered to You. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.