Harry Higgs delivered 2 surprising victories. Then got here a touching speech

That was final week.

This week introduced the Visit Knoxville Open, the place Higgs opened with 64-65 to maintain the nice occasions rolling. He entered Sunday one shot again of the lead however reeled off 5 birdies in his first six holes and performed the remainder of the spherical even par to put up 19-under 261. That quantity was equaled by Frankie Capan III, who birdied the final to pressure a playoff.

So Higgs went to additional holes for a second consecutive week. And for a second consecutive week he made a spectacular eagle, this time from 37 toes on the second playoff gap to safe his second consecutive victory.

It was the primary time in Korn Ferry Tour historical past {that a} participant gained back-to-back weeks. Extra importantly for Higgs it catapults him to No. 2 on the KFT’s factors listing, all however guaranteeing he’ll be promoted again to full standing on the PGA Tour for subsequent season.

“It does eons for confidence, however there’s a cause why I gained,” Higgs stated post-round. “Caring for my physique, my thoughts. Clearly I caught to the very same routine as final week and it labored once more this week, in order that’s most likely not going to alter a lot.”

Nor ought to it.

Then got here the speech.

Higgs admitted he had a tricky time attending to sleep Saturday night time. He was operating by means of what may occur if he gained — and what he may say if he did. The tragic dying of Grayson Murray weighed heavy on his thoughts. His playoff eagle afforded him the chance to handle the group.

Right here’s what he stated:

“I simply have a message, so forgive me if issues get somewhat deep,” Higgs started. “We misplaced, yesterday, one in all our personal. I don’t know when you guys heard the information, however someone who went by means of lots of troublesome issues, someone that was open and trustworthy about it. And I believed final night time, I didn’t sleep value a darn. And I’m actually good at sleeping. I considered this second and find out how to perhaps bear in mind Grayson.

“All people that’s right here, one, thanks a lot for receiving me and congratulating me and cheering me on all through. However this golf stuff and the outcome, it’s beautiful, positive. But it surely’s simply — it’s simply not that significant.

“One factor that I sort of considered final night time, particularly laying in mattress, I’d problem everyone right here, and I’m going to do that myself as properly, every day, is to say one thing good to somebody you’re keen on. And likewise make it a degree to say one thing good to someone you don’t even know. The world is a really troublesome place. The world is troublesome and solely getting tougher. I’ve been blessed with nice mother and father and an incredible help system, and I haven’t had, aside from some frustration at occasions, any battles mentally. However Lord is aware of how many individuals do and it’s solely ever growing. So everyone right here might be a distinction. The distinction. Brighten up someone’s day, it may imply the world.

“The problem — I’ll begin. I’m positive I’ll say some nice issues to people who I like, hopefully right here very quickly. However the second a part of the problem, say one thing good to people who I have no idea, I’d like to handle each one in all you guys which are right here: Thanks from the underside of my coronary heart. Knoxville, you guys have been heat and gracious hosts. This may imply the world to me as I feel again on it, however I’ll simply bear in mind the good people who I met right here in Knoxville. So once more, from the underside of my coronary heart, thanks. Let’s all attempt to put some good out on the earth.”

Effectively stated, Harry. Problem accepted.

Dylan Dethier

Golf.com Editor

Dylan Dethier is a senior author for GOLF Journal/GOLF.com. The Williamstown, Mass. native joined GOLF in 2017 after two years scuffling on the mini-tours. Dethier is a graduate of Williams Faculty, the place he majored in English, and he’s the creator of 18 in America, which particulars the 12 months he spent as an 18-year-old dwelling from his automobile and enjoying a spherical of golf in each state.