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The PNC Championship Reminds Us What's Important — Both About Golf and Life

By Brendon Elliott
Published on

Charlie, Sam and Tiger Woods.Getty Images

Without fail, year in and year out, the PNC Championship reminds us of what is most important about the game of golf.
Normally the Monday after a tournament, we typically present you with a swing tip or two on PGA.com. We may also suggest an aspect of the game to work on to help you play better golf.
My intention is to still offer that up to you today. Yet, not by way of a mechanical aspect to focus in on or a drill to use as you practice. Instead, and it's just as valuable as any tip that you would otherwise get, this is more of a reminder and the foundation of how all great golf is played.
12-year-old Will McGee, son of Annika Sorenstam, was interviewed alongside his mom after the final round of the PNC. You can tell how much this means to Will, and his mom, who both love golf as much as anyone.
Or perhaps you saw Padraig Harrington’s interview yesterday. He talked about what he feels is most important about getting people, especially young kids, to love the game.
Some constant themes played out throughout this weekend’s PNC Championship. Golf is all about family. Golf is about having fun. Golf is about love. As Harrington said, you must learn to love golf first in order to be good at it.
You can tell the love for golf is evident with Tiger and Charlie Woods, with their fist pumps and smiles that appeared all over the course this past weekend:
I had one of the most powerful examples of this a couple of months ago with one of my students. Sebastian is an 18-year-old senior at Lake Brantley High School near Orlando. He has been playing and participating in programs at my academy since he was 12 years old. Over the last two years, he has gotten very serious about his game and has been working with me extensively because he wants to play in college.
A great deal of progress has been made over the last year. But, like many talented teen players, Sebastian was struggling to have a breakthrough round in competition. He could shoot par and under routinely in practice, but in competition, it was always more of a challenge to do so.
That breakthrough came a few months back at a tournament here in Orlando. The following is a text conversation I had with Sebastian the day after he shot a 4-under-par round in that event to secure a victory. It was the first time he scored in the 60s.
Take a lesson from Will and Annika, Padraig, Tiger and Charlie, and all who competed in Orlando at the PNC Championship this weekend. Take note of what my student Sebastian realized in his breakthrough under-par win.
Love golf, have fun playing it, and be thankful that it’s a part of your life. The game will reward you if you do.
Brendon R. Elliott, PGA

Sorrento, FL

Brendon Elliott

Director of Instruction, Freelance Golf Writer

After 16 remarkable years of nurturing young talent and fostering a love for golf through The Little Linksters Golf Academy, Brendon Elliott is excited to announce the transition of leadership to esteemed Coach Ricky Collado in 2025. As the baton is passed, Coach Ricky will take charge of all operations and become the primary point of contact for any Linksters-related inquiries. As Brendon steps into a new chapter, the focus will shift to launching and growing BE A GOLFER, a new academy dedicated to competitive teenage golfers. This initiative will continue both in-person and remote coaching, harnessing years of expertise to nurture the next generation of golfing talent. Further expanding horizons, Brendon will also dedicate time to One More Roll Golf Media. This venture aims to collaborate with various golf media outlets and businesses, delivering high-quality written, video, and voice content. Despite these new ventures, Brendon will remain closely connected with Little Linksters. A commitment to collaboration with Coach Ricky will continue, particularly with projects like the PGA Junior League, ensuring a lasting impact and smooth transition. “I am thrilled about the future of Little Linksters under Coach Ricky Collado’s leadership. This transition marks a change and an exciting new direction for me and the academy. I look forward to contributing my efforts towards developing competitive young golfers and advancing in the golf media landscape.” ~ Brendon R. Elliott, PGA More About Coach Brendon... Brendon Elliott is a distinguished PGA Professional who has received over 25 prestigious industry awards recognizing his contributions and influence in youth golf, most notably, the 2017 PGA of America National Youth Player Development Award. With numerous appearances on the Golf Channel and local news outlets in Florida, Brendon has established himself as a respected educator and influencer in the golf industry. Renowned for his expertise in all aspects of golf, he is a sought-after speaker at golfing events and panels. In the past three years, Brendon has expanded into media, writing for esteemed outlets such as PGA.com, PGA Magazine, Golf.com, GolfWRX.com, RG.org, and many others. Elliott is also part of the “Quiet Please Golf Podcast” crew and hosts a livestream show on the Golf Live App called “Monday Evening Tee Time.” Brendon’s dedication to advancing the sport has made a significant impact on the golf community.

Meet Brendon

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