Larry Montes as role model

Christmas is one of many special times in the year when we thank the good Lord for all the blessings we received and even for the trials, adversities and challenges we faced in the year about to end that enable us to appreciate God’s grace.

Perhaps, at no time since the Great Depression in the 1930’s has the world economy come under tremendous stress caused by bad judgment, insatiable greed and unbridled markets and, in many instances, a combination of these factors.

Two thousand eight will go down in history as the year where, in the words of Bill Gross, founder of bond giant Pimco, “the value of every major asset class - stocks, real estate, commodities, even high-yield bonds - suffered significant double-digit percentage losses, resulting in the destruction of over US$30 trillion of paper wealth.”

The general prediction is that the overall economy of the US and the rest of the world will be worse than expected with consumer spending taking a beating. There will be recovery over the next two to three years but growth will be so weak that, as Nourile Roubini, the New York University professor who saw the mortgage-related meltdown coming stressed, “it will be so weak that it’s going to feel like a recession.”

What do we do during these difficult times? At the human level, we could go back to basics and suggest, for example, there’s nothing like financial institutions “promoting real growth and long term-value for the economy and where American families have rediscovered the peace of mind of financial security achieved through saving and investing wisely,” as US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation chair Sheila Blair put it.

Going back to the basics, when most every human solution fails, include imploring the aid of Divine Intercession and doing acts of sacrifice and self-denial.

Even as we implore the Almighty’s aid, we are inspired by great people like Andres Bonifacio, Ninoy Aquino, Gabriela Silang and Pepe Diokno. They made a big difference in people’s lives.

In Philippine sports, one always regards Manny Pacquiao, Gabriel “Flash” Elorde and Paeng Nepomuceno, to name a few, as heroes who, through their hard work and single-minded dedication, have inspired many others to do good with of their God-given talents.

Another great in Philippine sports is golfer Larry Montes who, as I narrated in last week’s column, was a victim of racial discrimination as the entire nation was discriminated upon by its colonizers.

Last week’s short narration on how Montes was a victim of discrimination right in his own country, drew reactions from readers as far as the United States who wondered why Montes did not get enough recognition especially from the government.

Reading “The Life and Times of Larry Montes” written by Adel Gabot for Golf History”, one has to agree bearing in mind that Montes won the Philippine Open a record 13 times.

Gabot points out Montes started as a caddy in the mid-1920s when he was 16 at the Muni Golf Course in Intramuros. He was caddying for American military and naval officers.

Like many of the old greats, Montes learned the game by himself without the benefit of coaches and trainers and golf theory and training. It can be a bit mind-boggling therefore to consider that the greatest Filipino golfer who ever lived had no concrete idea about or scientific reasoning behind the execution of his own golf swing. He just did what felt right, says Gabot.

In Gabot’s article, Montes’s second son, Hector, says he feels that “Larry’s greatest achievement is his winning 13 Philippine Opens, the first when he was 18 and the last when he was 42. This will probably never be broken.”

Montes’s motivation was simple - he just wanted to improve his life. “Back then Filipino golfers were driven to succeed mostly because the best came from poor backgrounds. Montes, Arda and Tugot were all caddies who worked hard to better their lot in life,” Hector says.

Internationally, Montes also created waves winning the Japanese Open Golf Championship in 1939. Montes scored a record 64 at the exclusive Olympic Club in San Francisco at the Northern Cal PGA Championship in 1964 and a 58 at Harding Park at the San Francisco Open in a non-competitive round.

Surely, Montes serves as an inspiration to young collegiate players of various universities like De La Salle University who have done well in the Samsung Interscholastic championships and other tournaments. These collegiate athletes are supported by the likes of businessman Terry Capistrano and team manager Jed Bautista who are gratified by their wards’ commitment. These young men and women will, in turn, serve as role models for succeeding generations.

A Happy New Year to all!