Perspective from the 19^th Hole is the title I chose for my personal blog, which is meant to give me an outlet for one of my favorite crafts – writing – plus to use an image from my favorite sport, golf.  Out of college, my first job was as a reporter for the Daily Astorian in Astoria, Oregon, and I went on from there to practice writing in all my professional positions, including as press secretary in Washington, D.C. for a Democrat Congressman from Oregon (Les AuCoin), as an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, as press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and as a private sector lobbyist.  This blog also allows me to link another favorite pastime – politics and the art of developing public policy – to what I write.  I could have called this blog “Middle Ground,” for that is what I long for in both politics and golf.  The middle ground is often where the best public policy decisions lie.  And it is where you want to be on a golf course.

Many of us who love the Masters Golf Tournament watched last Sunday and pro golfer Justin Rose lost to the favorite Rory McIlroy.

But, did Rose actually lose?  Well, yes, in golf where the total score counts, he did.  But, in sportsmanship, he succeeded “masterfully.”

I thought of this for two reasons.

• First, Rose is playing in one of golf’s “signature events” this weekend, the RBC at Hilton Head, South Carolina.  When I saw him on TV yesterday, I marveled that he was back on the course so soon.
• Second, a column in the Wall Street Journal by writer Jason Gay called this to my attention.  He are excerpts of what Gay wrote under this headline:

Justin Rose Did Not Lose the Masters:  Rory McIlroy captures a milestone as his friend and golf rival sets an example of sportsmanship.  Who isn’t rooting for the runner-up now?

Here is how the column started:

“In the hours after Rory McIlroy’s dramatic, curse-smashing victory at the Masters, I was struck by how many readers wrote to me not only about McIlroy, but also about the player who came in second, Justin Rose. 

“McIlroy’s rollicking, roller-coaster triumph was an emotional crescendo for a well-liked player who’d chased this title for a long time.  On this, everyone seemed to agree. 

“But also noticed amid the Rory mania was the brilliant day of golf — and the quiet sportsmanship — of the 44-year-old Englishman who’s been waiting patiently for a green jacket, too. 

“And once more, the Englishman, Rose, finished second in a playoff.”

When I was watching last round of the Masters, I was pulling for McIlroy to get the “last major issue” off this back.  But I was not rooting against Rose who has been a professional golfer for more than 20 years and always has appeared to be a model of sportsmanship.

So, I have liked Ross, too.

In the Wall Street Journal, the columnist Gay reminds us again of the value of sportsmanship – and it is a good reminder.

Here’s more from Gay:

“Rose may prove to be an exception, not only because of the graciousness he showed toward McIlroy, but also because people now know his story.    

“Sunday wasn’t the first time Rose finished second at the Masters. It was the third time. In 2015, he tied for second with Phil Mickelson behind 21-year-old winner Jordan Spieth.  In 2017 he was runner-up to Sergio Garcia after a playoff.

“Near misses like that can undo a psyche and career. But Rose turned the close call with Garcia into fuel, playing his best golf, reaching No. 1 in the world.

“On Sunday, Rose played one of the great rounds of his life.  The prior afternoon, he left the course dejected, having dropped back from contention with a dispiriting 75.  This was a bummer since Rose had started the tournament so well, with an opening round 65, good enough for first place.

“Still, Rose woke up feeling grateful.  ‘Sunday [at] Augusta,’ he said later. ‘It’s a special day in the game of golf, no matter what.’”

Well said, Justin Rose.