When you played the Masters Golf Tournament last month, did anyone notice what happened in the final round of the game? Sure, Angel Cabrera won, and the obvious thing that everyone probably noticed was that Tiger Woods and Phil Michelson, the two highest-ranked golfers in the world, played together. Both played very well in the front nine after starting several shots back, making heroic charges to get within a shot of the lead. However, both Michelson and Woods faded from contention by finishing fifth and tied for sixth, respectively. What was most interesting were the reactions each had after their incredible day of golf.

In his post-round interview, Phil gave the kind of answer we most often teach our kids: “It was fun.” Mickelson spoke over and over about how well he played as he smiled for the cameras. His attention was focused on the positive things he had accomplished that day, including a record 30 in the front nine, finishing fifth overall, beating Tiger Woods for the round and making a solid run for the championship. In fact, his tremendous five under per round of 67, if repeated over the four days of play, would have won the tournament by a resounding 8 stroke over Angel Cabrera.

In contrast, Tiger Woods was displeased with his effort. Of course, he also played well enough during the final round that a four-day replay would have made him the 2009 Masters Champion. However, after bogeys on 17 and 18 left him tied for sixth place, Woods didn’t make it. more than scowling at the cameras and saying his play of the day was “just terrible!” While he made a fantastic charge in the final round going from seven to just one shot from the lead with two holes to play, it wasn’t enough for Tiger to stave off the bitter taste of defeat.

The different approaches that the two best players in the world have in their final round shows a lot about each of them. Phil, the second best player in the world, is having fun and is pleased with his results; happy with his performance. On the other hand, Tiger, the best player in the world, is constantly motivated to do better and is never satisfied with his game. Mickelson has certainly made a great living for himself earning a lot of money as a professional golfer and is happy with where he is. Woods is driven to be the greatest of all time. If his attitudes were reversed, could his rankings also change?

Young athletes are supposed to learn to lose with dignity and be “good sportsmen.” Do all of our politically correct teachings lead to an acceptance of losing rather than an outright drive to succeed? In school, is it good to get “all A’s” but never learn the material? Is the goal in life to be the best that each individual can be or just to get ahead? Is it better to try to make a diving catch, risking missing, or to play it safe and keep the batter on a single? Each of these questions is reflected in our champions.

We certainly want our children to have fun in what they do. Since the goal isn’t to create professional athletes but to teach “life lessons,” what’s the point of having fun? The problem with that notion is that it carries over into schoolwork and into life; Instead of mastering the material in school, we want our kids to get good grades. Instead of doing our best work, we just want to do our job. This is not enough and we must not settle for continuing to allow mediocrity. As a society, we must demand more of ourselves, our children and others.

Not everyone has great abilities or the innate ability to accomplish great things. However, as John Wooden says: “Success is the peace of mind that is the direct result of the self-satisfaction of knowing that you have made the effort to do the best you are capable of.” Therefore, each of us has the ability to succeed albeit with a different, personal and individual standard of success. Perhaps what we saw through the Masters results was not a different attitude, but a player’s recognition that he had achieved what he was capable of and another feeling that he still could have done more. Since we can all measure our own success by individual standards, always make sure you do your best because it’s better to be happy.