Photo and writing by Joseph DeBell, Opinion Editor
George F. Will, a columnist for The Washington Post, starred in a short video about “Why baseball is the right game for democracy.”
Will made some valid arguments — saying that baseball is a lot like democracy because “it’s all about failure.”
While baseball may capture the democratic spirit through its embrace of failure, golf offers a different but equally compelling metaphor — one rooted in accountability and self-governance.
Whether it’s a friendly match on the weekend, golfers are expected to call penalties on themselves, adhere to the honor system and uphold the integrity of the game even when no one is watching.
That same spirit of accountability holds even at the highest levels of professional play.
During the 2024 Tour Championship, PGA golfer Sahith Theegala called a two-stroke penalty on himself after suspecting he had accidentally moved sand during his backswing in a fairway bunker — a violation only he could have seen.
Despite video replay offering no clear evidence, Theegala insisted on taking the penalty.
“I’m not 100% sure. But I’d say I’m 98, 99% sure that some sand was moved.” Theegala said, in an article posted by ESPN.
His decision, which potentially cost him millions in FedEx Cup prize money, wasn’t driven by certainty but by conscience.
“Whatever, two shots, I feel good about it. I think it was a penalty… Just a weird situation,” Theegala said.
This act of self-regulation illustrates the core democratic principle of integrity — doing what’s right even when no one is looking.
During the 2000 presidential election, Vice President Al Gore faced enormous pressure to keep fighting after a Supreme Court decision effectively handed the presidency to George W. Bush. Many in Gore’s camp believed the decision was unjust and urged him to continue challenging the outcome.
Gore chose unity over escalation.
“I accept the finality of the outcome, which will be ratified next Monday in the Electoral College,” Gore said during his concession speech. “And tonight, for the sake of our unity as a people and the strength of our democracy, I offer my concession.”
Gore prioritized the peaceful transfer of power over his ambitions — an act of democratic sportsmanship that mirrored Theegala’s on-course humility.
In both cases, the person in question didn’t act because they were forced to — they acted because they believed in something larger than themselves. That’s democracy at its finest. And golf, with its quiet insistence on honor, reflects it perfectly.
debelljb22@bonaventure.edu
