Photo by Brennan Asplen/Getty Images
Higgs refused to make his second-straight Korn Ferry Tour win about himself. Instead he talked about kindness.
The last two weeks for Harry Higgs have been exciting. He made history on the Korn Ferry Tour after becoming the first player ever to win back-to-back tournaments.
These two victories ensure his return to the PGA Tour, but that was not his message after he won the Visit Knoxville Open on Sunday. He also won with the words he said during the trophy ceremony.
Higgs used his time with the mic as an opportunity to honor Grayson Murray, who lost his life after withdrawing from the Charles Schwab Challenge on Friday. His parents would update the golf world on Sunday morning, letting everyone know that their son tragically took his life.
He used his platform to remind people how precious life is and to issue a challenge.
“I would challenge everybody here, and I’m going to do this myself as well each day, say something nice to someone you love and also make a point to say something nice to someone you do not even know,” Higgs said.
That challenge was just a piece of the statement Higgs sent. It was a moment in time that made someone stand still and listen. He did not have to go that route but chose to.
“We lost, yesterday morning, one of our own,” Higgs said. “I don’t know if you guys heard the news, but somebody who went through a lot of difficult things, somebody that was open and honest about it… I thought about this moment and how to maybe remember Grayson. This golf stuff and the result, it’s lovely, sure, but it’s not that meaningful.”
Higgs acknowledges that while he does not suffer from mental battles, he recognizes those that do. The 32-year-old has not played his best in recent years. He had to go back and play Q-school last year. The former SMU golfer knows how challenging this sport is and how hard this world makes things for people.
“Lord knows how many people do, and it’s only ever increasing, so if we can — Everybody here could make a difference. The difference,” Higgs said. “Brighten up somebody’s day — it could mean the world.”
Photo by Brennan Asplen/Getty Images
After the trophy ceremony, Higgs continued to explain why he made the tribute to Murray. As a professional golfer, he knows all too well how terrible people can be on and off the internet.
Higgs is one of the most humble individuals. He usually keeps things light and fun. The Dallas resident claims he is not the influential type, but his words suggest otherwise.
“It’s OK to not be OK — to reach out,” he said. “The world’s tough, man. Social media is awesome but also a pain in the you-know-what. People can be mean. I’m mean sometimes, too. I’m certainly not perfect, but I’m going to certainly try to live what I said.”
“That will be part of my routine, part of the things that I can control outside the golf course and hopefully bring light to somebody that may be having a hard time. Hopefully, make a difference in a few people’s lives over the course of however many years I have left on this crazy planet.”
Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. For more golf coverage, be sure to follow us @_PlayingThrough on all major social platforms. You can also follow her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.
