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 As Sunday dawns over the Firth of Clyde Ross Fisher will roll out of bed, if he was able to sleep at all, facing a decision that 99.9 percent of us could never dream of. He begins the final round of the 138th Open Championship one shot of the pace set by 59-year-old Tom Watson with a stated promise that he would hop on a jet to be with his wife Jo, who is expecting the couple's first child, if she were to go into labor.
Your first born child or your first major championship? Holding your wife's hand as she agonizes in the delivery room or holding the Claret Jug on the 18th hole at Turnberry?
Normally I would be all for an athlete going for glory on the field. Fisher makes good money as a pro golfer, so hire a professional videographer to record the birth. However, this week we all witnessed golf's main problem. No matter what the storyline is, whether it be Watson pushing 60 leading the Open Championship or Norman pushing 54 leading the Open Championship, those headlines will always be dwarfed by the whereabouts of Tiger Woods.
Golf could always use compelling characters and Fisher could raise his profile with a single unprecedented action; after all he may not win if he stays.
Ten years ago Jean Van de Velde did something so shocking at Carnoustie that we'll never forget his name or the image of him peeling of his socks and dipping his bare feet in the burn. Image the moment if Fisher were leading or tied on the 9th tee when he gets the message that his wife is in labor and he immediatley withdraws.
Fisher is ranked No. 21 in the Official World Golf Rankings, but you'd have trouble finding a handful of golf fans in America who could pick him out of a line up. Fisher tied for 5th at the U.S. Open last month at Bethpage Black and problably received less press coverage than David Duval's girlfriend.
I however do know who Ross Fisher is, and had him as one of my five players to watch heading into the tournament.
Make a name for yourself Mr. Fisher, follow up on your promise and leave the Open Championship to be with your wife no matter what.
I realize this would be akin to Freddy Prinze Jr.'s character in the horrendously awful movie Summer Catch leaving a baseball game two outs from pitching a no hitter to chase Jessica Biel to the airport, which was widely regarded by baseball people as sacreligious, but it would make Fisher an unforgettable figure in the history of the game. He'd be right up there with Van de Velde.
Watson wins the Open Championship and golf generates a significant buzz for a day or two on sports talk radio, but Fisher leaves to be with his wife halfway through the final round and Good Morning America leads with the story.
By the way, wouldn't you give up a no hitter in the Cape Cod Summer League to follow Jessica Beil to the airport?
Hopefully we'll have a dramatic finish with either Watson or Fisher winning, or Watson winning and Fisher flying to be with his girl, but let something great happen without that Woods guy being involved. The game needs it.
And what was Fisher saying at the 11th hour in relation to his chivalrous claim at the beginning of the week?
"No news at the moment," he stated in his post-round presser. "So as I say, no news is good news, you know. Hopefully it will stay that way. I guess we'll just have to wait and see. Fingers crossed, hopefully she won't get too excited watching me tomorrow and she will be able to hang on for another day, and hopefully I can hang on for another day."
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