He hits the ball a long way and he knows how to win.

When Gary McCord declared, “He hits the ball a long way and he knows how to win,” he was speaking of golf, but in truth he was speaking of something far greater. In these few simple words, McCord distilled the essence of greatness: the combination of raw power and the rarer gift of wisdom in victory. For many can strike with strength, but few know how to turn strength into triumph. To hit the ball far is a matter of talent, but to win is a matter of spirit, patience, and mastery of the self.

The origin of this saying lies in McCord’s long years as both golfer and commentator. He had seen players with dazzling talent who could send the ball soaring over hills and fairways, yet who faltered when pressure mounted. He had also seen quieter, less flamboyant players who, though lacking sheer distance, possessed the calm composure to claim championships. When he spoke these words, it was often of a man who had both: the spectacle of distance and the grit of victory. To McCord, that balance of skill and will was the mark of true greatness.

The ancients, too, spoke of this duality. Homer’s heroes were not praised merely for their strength in battle, but for their cunning, their ability to seize the moment and emerge victorious. Achilles had unmatched power, but it was Odysseus, with wisdom and resolve, who found the path home. Strength alone is admired, but strength combined with mastery of circumstance is revered. McCord’s observation is thus timeless: it is not enough to display talent—you must also know how to win, to endure the storms of doubt, and to close the contest with honor.

Think of Tiger Woods at the 2008 U.S. Open. With a knee torn and pain etched into every stride, he still hit the ball long and true, but more importantly, he knew how to harness his will to win. Against all odds, he forced a playoff, and then, on one leg, triumphed against Rocco Mediate. The world marveled not only at his power, but at his unbreakable will. In that moment, he embodied McCord’s words: distance and strength alone did not carry him—it was the union of power with the knowledge of victory that lifted him into legend.

The lesson is clear: in life, raw ability may carry you far, but it is wisdom, discipline, and composure that will carry you across the finish line. The world is full of people who can “hit the ball a long way”—those with natural gifts, brilliance, or talent. But the ones who rise above, the ones remembered as champions, are those who “know how to win”—those who prepare, endure, and seize their moment with courage and calm.

What then must we do? First, cultivate your gifts—let your “long drive” be whatever talent you possess. Hone it, sharpen it, make it strong. But second, do not stop there. Learn to master yourself under pressure, to endure setbacks, to rise when failure tempts you to quit. Third, remember that winning is not simply defeating others, but conquering the obstacles within yourself: fear, doubt, and fatigue. To know how to win is to know how to summon your best when it matters most.

Thus, Gary McCord’s words shine as more than a commentator’s praise: “He hits the ball a long way and he knows how to win.” It is a formula for greatness in any field—talent united with discipline, strength guided by wisdom, courage crowned with victory. May we all learn to not only strike with power in our endeavors, but also to carry within us the quiet strength that turns effort into triumph. For in the union of these two lies the path to glory.