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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

[Brendon Elliott, PGA](https://brendonelliott.com/), is an award-winning PGA Professional, player-development coach and nationally recognized golf writer with three decades of experience in the golf industry. As of 2026, he has been a PGA Professional for 17 years and has earned more than 25 PGA Section and Chapter honors for his work in coaching, education and player development. In 2017, he received the PGA of America National Youth Player Development Award. ## Coaching Competitive Teenage Golfers Through [BE A GOLFER](https://beagolfer.golf/home), Brendon specializes in working with competitive teenage golfers who want to improve their performance, better understand their games and prepare for the demands of high school, junior tournament and college golf. His primary focus is [Remote Coaching](https://beagolfer.golf/remote-coaching), which allows him to remain actively involved in a player’s development regardless of location. Rather than relying on occasional lessons or isolated swing fixes, Brendon works with players throughout their competitive journey. His coaching covers much more than the golf swing. Players receive ongoing guidance in structured practice, short-game development, putting, course management, tournament preparation, performance analysis, goal setting and the mental and physical habits required to improve over time. Using video analysis, virtual coaching sessions, performance data and regular communication, Brendon helps each player understand what to work on, why it matters and how to make meaningful progress between practices and tournaments. Brendon accepts only a limited number of in-person students in Central Florida. His priority is building long-term [Remote Coaching](https://beagolfer.golf/remote-coaching) relationships with competitive teenage golfers and their families. The goal is not simply to help a young player hit better shots. It is to help that player become more prepared, more accountable and more capable of navigating everything competitive golf demands. Brendon’s career has included serving as a head golf professional, general manager, college golf educator, career development director, academy owner and longtime junior golf leader. He founded Little Linksters Golf Academy in 2008 and led the organization for more than 16 years before selling the academy in late 2024 and launching [BE A GOLFER](https://beagolfer.golf/home). ## Golf Writing and Media Brendon is also a nationally recognized and prolific golf writer and storyteller. He is the Senior Golf Writer for [Athlon Sports](https://athlonsports.com/author/brendon-elliott) and has written extensively about professional golf, instruction, player development, equipment, golf history and the people shaping the game. His work has also appeared with PGA.com, GolfWRX, PGA Magazine, MyGolfSpy and several other prominent golf media outlets. Through [One More Roll Golf Media](https://onemorerollgolf.com/), Brendon provides editorial content, feature writing, consulting and media services throughout the golf industry. His background as a coach and educator shapes the way he writes, while his work as a writer strengthens the way he coaches. He understands how to explain complicated ideas clearly, ask better questions and connect the technical, strategic and personal sides of golf.

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