"But once I realized what I now believe, that the Bible is the standard of truth, I am totally willing to lay aside anything that stands in the way"

As U.S. Amateur play gets under way (scores here), Jimmie Tramel tells us about 24-year-old Louie Bishop, a Seventh-day Adventist who doesn't compete on Saturdays, a.k.a the sabbath. Meaning if he were to advance to the semis, he'd WD.

"I would love to make it that far, and it would be an easy choice for me," Bishop said.

"I would withdraw and be happy to share the reasons why. I wouldn't try to make a scene out of it ... but I would be happy to make it that far and whatever happens, happens."

What's the point of traveling halfway across the country for a no-win situation?

Bishop, who also qualified for the 2003 U.S. Amateur at Oakmont, said, "The pleasure is more in just being there and playing the golf course. And competing at that level is a good experience and a lot of fun."

Just like Ross Fisher threatening to leave the Open Championship as soon as his wife went into labor, it's also selfish.

The story explains how his college coach grappled with Bishop's devotion. However, that's different since it's a team event and a strategic choice made by the coach. If you are an individual entering a tournament and know you may not be able to complete the event for personal reasons, you should not be allowed to waste a spot.

The sabbath issue means Bishop — no matter how good he is, and he was record-breaking good as a college player at UC-Davis — will never be on the PGA Tour. That was tough for him to accept when he was a kid, because he said he didn't really understand his family's religious faith.

"I liked golf so much and I idolized the professional golfers so much that I really did want to play professional golf when I was older," he said. "At some point, the sabbath thing was kind of a controversy for me. I saw it as more of a restraint than I saw it as something that was true.

"But once I realized what I now believe, that the Bible is the standard of truth, I am totally willing to lay aside anything that stands in the way, so it's not a problem anymore."

Yes it is.