Road from Zambia: Muthiya's improbable journey continues

WINTER GARDEN, Fla. -- In the midst of another starched, high-level government meeting between key international dignitaries, the topic of conversation was all too predictable. At least initially.

Madalitso Muthiya earned his college scholarship before ever taking a 'real' lesson. (Getty Images)

The subject matter would make most folks nod into a drool-inducing sleep -- broadening economic relations, establishing trade connections, securing venture capital, opening the doors of opportunity. But since that represents Jayme Roth's chosen area of expertise, it goes with the territory.

In this case, the terrain in question was Zambia, and Roth was speaking with the impoverished African nation's president at the time, Frederick Chiluba.

Roth, an American trade expert who had been hired by the developing country to heighten its economic options, thought the meeting was over when Chiluba threw one more chore onto his plate as an aside dish, if you will.

"There is a young golfer here," Chiluba said nine years ago. "I would like you to meet him, to see if there's anything you can do to help him."

Talk about political favors. That wasn't exactly part of Roth's job description. It no doubt took considerable restraint for Roth not to laugh out loud.

"I thought, 'Well, I'd rather just try to bring you some investors,'" Roth recalled.

Forget economics. It fast became the most important emotional investment, for Roth and promising prospect Madalitso Muthiya, of their lives.

As always, the personal storylines generated by the amazing mélange of pros competing this week at the PGA Tour Qualifying School finals sometimes trump the event itself. Many have scaled financial mountains or fought off internal demons to advance to the event, which will determine who plays next season on the PGA Tour and its secondary Nationwide circuit.

Rarely does a story represent more than personal self-interest, yet Muthiya's tale is as much about visas as it is tour cards. Born in one of the poorest countries on the planet, his story transcends the constrictions of race, economics and a troubled continent.

"I am not one for overly bold statements or self-aggrandizement," said Roth, now an aide to Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh in Washington, D.C. "But this has the potential to be one of the great sports stories of our time."

That's not political rhetoric, either. Last summer as a first-year pro, Muthiya became the first black African to qualify for the U.S. Open. No matter how this week shakes out at Q-school, next year he'll be playing on a major American tour, which is a development few saw coming.

And not because they weren't looking. Eleven years ago, Tiger Woods became the first African-American to win one of golf's major championships, introducing the game to creeds and hues across a broad sports spectrum. But more than a decade later, folks are still scanning the horizon for the next black player of impact, either male or female.