18 minute read
The World’s Most Inspiring Golfers
AGAINST
ALL ODDS THE NEXT TIME YOU TURN A BIRDIE PUTT INTO BOGEY, DON’T CURSE YOUR LUCK. THE SIX GOLFERS HERE KNOW THE TRUE MEANING OF ILL-FORTUNE. AND YET DESPITE THE ODDS,
THEY’VE EACH BATTLED BACK FROM THE BRINK, STRONGER FOR THE EXPERIENCE, READY TO RISE AGAIN...
WORDS: MICHAEL CATLING, KEVIN BROWN PICTURES: BOB ATKINS, ANGUS MURRAY, PROVIDED
MY PROSTHETICS HAVE GIVEN ME BACK MY GOLF GAME
ISSA NLAREB AMANG
Before I lost both my legs and almost all my fingers due to bacterial meningitis, I was playing some of the best golf of my life. My doctors think I actually contracted the virus when I won the Senegal Open in January 2018, but I only started feeling the effects when I flew to play in the Ein Bay Open in Egypt a month later. I remember trying to sleep the day before the tournament and feeling like my body was in the freezer. Eventually I lost consciousness, went into septic shock and I spent the next five days in a coma.
When I woke up, I realised I couldn’t move. The doctors told me I would recover, but nothing changed for one month. It was only when they transferred me to a hospital in Cameroon that they did some tests which showed I had no life left in my fingers or feet. That’s when they decided to move me to Belgium so they could amputate both legs, all the fingers on my left hand and three on my right.
It was such a terrible thing to hear because no one knew if I would be able to play golf any more. I struggled to accept it at first but after 12 weeks of non-stop pain and crying, I realised it was my only choice.
One of the worst things was having to spend nine months away from my family. It was so hard because my wife doesn’t have a job and my kids had to stop going to school for two years. We don’t have any health insurance either, and the only reason I could have the operation was because of the generosity of the Alps Tour, my friends and everyone at my golf club.
I can’t explain how grateful I am because the first day I got my prosthetics was the first day I started walking again. I barely slept for the next few months because I was so desperate to get strong again and get back to my family. The doctors were amazed to see me recovering so quickly, but the best part was practising my golf swing in the hospital.
In the beginning, my best drive was 50 metres and I was so happy with that because I was swinging one-handed with just two fingers holding the club.
When I returned home in August 2019, I started coaching my brothers and I thought that would be enough to keep me happy. But one day one of them flew to a tournament and finished on 35-over-par. I was like, how is that even possible? That motivated me to get back on the range again.
I ended up using a strap so I could secure my left hand to the club and swing two handed. My first ball went 200 metres. I can’t explain how good that felt. I realised at that moment that anything could happen.
My first tournament back on the Alps Tour was in early 2020 – at the same tournament in Egypt where I got ill – and it was there that I contracted coronavirus. I couldn’t believe it.
After that, I couldn’t afford to play on the Alps Tour again that year. It was only because of the people I coach that I was even able to go back to Egypt again this year. They believed in me and put their hands in their pockets to pay for my plane ticket.
I had a good first round and I was just praying I could do it again. I remember standing on the 18th hole, knowing I’d made my first-ever cut, and thinking, ‘Whoa, you’ve made it’. I ended up finishing in a tie for 51st, but the only thing I felt was immense pride and happiness.
What I need now is the support to keep going. I need that chance because, since I’ve started playing golf again, I’ve received no support from my government or federation. I’m the only disabled golfer in Africa and I don’t know where my next tournament is going to be because I don’t have the funding or sponsorship.
Sometimes I go back to my house in Cameroon and I start to cry because I don’t have a chance to enjoy my job and pursue my dream. I’m probably a victim of how poor my country is but I will never give up. Golf is my life.
I’ve learnt that golf is like life itself – full of ups and downs. One minute you can be on the crest of a wave, the next moment you’re at rock bottom.
When I made the England squad in 2014 and 2015, I was doing really well on the amateur scene and was probably the fittest I’ve ever been. But then I started getting seriously tired. At first I didn’t think much about it, then one day I got a pain in the right side of my chest which gravitated to the left throughout the day. I reluctantly went to hospital where they first thought I was having a heart attack.
After a good six weeks of tests they told me it was lymphoma cancer and I needed treatment. It was quite a treatable disease, but at the time the tumour in my chest was quite substantial, to the extent that it had pushed my heart onto my rib cage on the left side. Six rounds of chemotherapy followed, with 15 days of radiotherapy and then three months to allow the affected area to settle before they retested me to see if it had all gone.
Obviously everything crosses your mind through that, including the worst case scenario. If that treatment doesn’t work, as is the case with some people, who knows what happens next?
For a year afterwards I felt like, I’m just going to play, not put any pressure on myself or force myself to do anything. I just wanted to see whether I still wanted to do it after such a weird and horrendous year. I’d play eight holes and that was enough. My mental state wasn’t the best and when I came out the other side I just wanted to enjoy myself. I went to the pub with the lads, and took a couple of holidays.
Everything changed again when I won my second Lancashire county title in 2018, a year after my illness. I realised then that I still had the desire to carry on and I’m so glad I did. I turned pro and enjoyed a great first year, crowned by winning a EuroPro event. There’s no way I was thinking, during my illness, that I’d be standing there holding a trophy.
It’s only in the last year that I’ve really started to feel physically where I was before I was taken ill. I always thought I’d be able to play again, though it was questionable whether I’d have the mental state to compete. Nothing seemed to matter as much, so there’s a question mark about whether I would still put the same amount of effort in. But I feel I’m better for it now, better for that experience.
Now the EuroPro Tour has started up again, I feel like I’ve been given a new lease of life. Part of that, strangely, is down to Covid – I was lucky enough to catch one of the last flights to Spain and set up camp there for the winter until March, which was huge. It cost me a lot of cash but, in my eyes, it was money well spent. I was going to the gym and playing and practising every day with no distractions.
That period enabled me to make some big changes to my body and golf swing and I’m now reaping the benefits. I’ve also taken on a sports psychologist, so I’m a totally different golfer with a different mindset and body.
Now my main goal is to make the European Tour and push on again to see how far I can go. I want to be the best I can be and see where that takes me.
I NEVER THOUGHT I’D BE A WINNER AGAIN AFTER SIX ROUNDS OF CHEMO
SEAN TOWNDROW
I’ve had a rollercoaster career so far, full of huge highs and huge lows. I went from struggling to make an impact on the mini tours to being diagnosed with Lyme disease and then winning the 2020 Women’s British Open.
I battled health issues from the year I turned pro in 2015 and, looking back, it was pretty incredible how well I played considering I wasn’t 100 percent.
It took about 12 or 13 doctors visits over three years to figure out I had Lyme disease. At that point, it was so chronic and I was struggling badly with fatigue. It was a constant battle to get my energy back up and hit it as far as I did in college because I lost about 25lb.
When I finally had the diagnosis I was able to take action. It made a huge difference and I started playing more like I had before my health issues.
Lyme disease is something that sticks with you more or less your whole life, but I have my symptoms under control right now and I’m able to play at pretty much 100 percent so long as I stick to my diet and the restrictions I have to maintain.
There were times when I thought maybe I needed to try something else. That became more real as the years went by and the realisation hit that I was just unfortunate to I NEVER LOST HOPE, EVEN WHEN be struck down by something that not many people I COULDN’T GET get. I was then faced with a choice of dealing with it or looking for something else to do. OUT OF BED
Deep down, I knew that I was good enough and that made it really hard for me to just quit. I was lucky to have the right SOPHIA POPOV support system, so I soldiered on and I never fully lost hope.
My win in the Women’s Open made it I’m relishing my title defence at Carnoustie, all worthwhile because I surprised so many one of my favourite courses. I’ve played there people. I was 304th in the world and only twice in the British Amateur and the 2011 managed to qualify late on with a top 10 British Open, and I love that place. I know the finish. course pretty well but, given certain condi-
Having won a Major, I’m now playing tions, it doesn’t really matter how well you with a lot more confidence and recently know the course. It’s going to be exciting finished second in the LPGA Match-Play. and hopefully there will be some fans this I enjoy myself out there now and being time to make it even more fun. exempt in all the Majors for at least the It’s been a long road to get here. There next five years has taken the pressure off was a lot of personal research, figuring and allowed me to play with more freedom. out on my own what would make me feel I’m more patient with myself and I think better. And I’m glad I got to a point where that’s key. I’m now feeling pretty good.
It’s been a long and hard road to get to where I am today. I relied heavily on my father’s support to keep me going. If it wasn’t for him, I’d be done. He’s taken time off work and sacrificed his life to help me achieve my dream of getting to the PGA Tour.
The toughest time came soon after I turned pro. I was down to my last dollar and was forced to sleep in my car for about 18 months on and off, as well as on friends’ couches. Money was so tight it was untrue… Dad helped me out whenever he could, but he still had his own bills to pay. It was tough for both of us. When I played well, he always told me to use the money on a hotel room or food. I suffered a major setback in 2018 when my car ground to a halt, driving from a tournament. I was waiting for the tow truck to arrive when people on the side of the road shouted that my car was on fire! The first thing I thought about was to get my golf clubs out of the trunk, so I threw them onto the side of the road. I tried to get back into the car, but it wouldn’t open which was just as well because, a few seconds later, it blew up. Who knows what would have happened if the door had opened…
The first year I turned professional, I played well and won the money list on the mini tour in Florida and got to the second stage of PGA Tour Q-School, missing the finals by two strokes. I thought professional golf was pretty easy and then reality set in in the second and third years. I briefly thought about quitting at one point – it probably came into my head a couple of times when I was sleeping in that car. But I’m a fighter and I wanted to do whatever I had to do to make the next level.
In the last six or seven months I’ve received more recognition and have got my name out there, gaining exemptions into two PGA Tour events. The first one I got into was the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, replacing somebody who’d got Covid. Then I played in Tiger’s event at Riviera thanks to the Charlie Sifford Exemption awarded every year to a player representing a minority background. I played pretty well the first day, shooting five birdies for -1, but then the wind got up in my second round and I missed the cut by one.
The only consolation was that I had the opportunity to have lunch with Tiger for an hour on that Saturday (before he had his car crash). It was like a dream come true to spend time with somebody you’ve looked up to your whole life. The only downside was that Dad couldn’t come to the events because of Covid.
What I’ve endured is a little embarrassing, but I’m glad I went through it – it’s made me a better man and a better golfer. I feel like I’ve been through a lot but, honestly, nothing can faze me now. I just never quit… my parents always taught me, if you start something, finish it.
WILLIE MACK III
Being born deaf means I’ve often struggled with the social side of life and sports in general. I played plenty of sports growing up, but it was only when I took up golf seriously at the age of 12 that I really felt I could be myself.
I only live five minutes’ walk away from Felixstowe Ferry Golf Club and I always found it a very welcoming environment. In the summer holidays I used to go there every day to practice and within four years I was playing off scratch, competing in national events such as the British Boys, English Amateur and Brabazon Trophy.
I never felt like I couldn’t compete on an equal playing field because I can still feel the strike of the ball, even though I can’t hear it. The hardest thing is being understood and understanding what’s being said isn’t always easy. I sometimes wonder if people think I’m being rude because unless they’re in my line of sight, I don’t know if they’re talking to me.
Luckily, everyone is really supportive – and that’s generally the case wherever I go. One year I got the chance to meet my namesake, Paul Waring, at Wentworth and spent some time with him on the range. I remember I was hitting it really nice until I hit a shank and it landed in the players’ eating area!
Paul still sends me messages pretty MY MONEY WOES WON’T STOP ME FROM regularly, giving me help and PURSUING MY advice. We actually have the same coach, Graham Walker. I try to see him about once a month, but last month was the first time GOLF DREAM I’d seen him this year. We tried a few lessons over Zoom but that’s pretty difficult when you’re deaf. PAUL WARING
The pandemic hasn’t been great for me because I lost a part-time job working on the range. I’ve also only managed to get a the best value for money. I’m not even sure handful of starts on the Jamega Tour and whether I’ll be able to represent Team GB, Clutch Pro Tour over the last 12 months and if selected, at the Deaflympics in 2022 behave only won money on three occasions. cause there is no funding for deaf athletes.
Because I get no financial support from When I won silver in 2017, we had to raise England Golf, I contribute all of my disability £7,000 for the golf team to even compete. allowance (less than £3,000 a year) towards I was hoping to qualify for the EuroPro the costs of my entry fee, travel, food and Tour at the end of last year, but I missed hotels. The rest is paid for by my parents the cut in final qualifying. That was hard to who have been a big help, but because the take, but I knew it wasn’t going to be easy. prize money isn’t that great, we’re not even I’m only 25 and I still believe I can progress close to breaking even. through the mini tours and earn my Euro-
Playing in 20-plus events in a year can pean Tour card, just like Matt Wallace did. I cost between £10,000-£15,000 so I have haven’t got a back-up plan because I want to pick and choose the events which offer to follow my dream.
Two days before I was due to play in the Web. com Tour Q-School in October 2017, I was watching cartoons with my kids when I went into full cardiac arrest. No warning signs. Nothing. My wife, Reye, called 911 and the paramedics were able to revive me, but en-route to the hospital my heart stopped again. The paramedics needed to shock me seven times before I came round.
Just about every test possible was done to find out what caused it, but nobody could figure it out. So now I’ve got a pacemaker and defibrillator device in my chest and I see my cardiologist every six months. Fortunately, I haven’t had any other episodes since. In fact my health is probably as good as its been in years…I’m 40, but I feel like I’m 25!
I’ve had a very different outlook in the last three or four years – my incident was pretty scary and, amazingly, there was more bad luck to follow. My wife and I got pinned under a 2,000lb industrial mower. I could breathe, but she couldn’t. Our neighbours lifted the mower off with a tractor and my wife was in cardiac arrest and had a collapsed lung.
After you’ve given your wife CPR to resuscitate her, there’s not a lot of pressure in making a par on the last or making the cut. You can pretty much handle a six-footer for par! Not surprisingly, everything kind of changed in my mindset from then on.
I’ve turned 40 now, but I firmly believe that, in golf, it’s never too late. I’d really like to make this year’s Web.com finals, but my ultimate goal is to finally play on the PGA Tour on a regular basis. I’m convinced I’ve got the game – I’ve been unlucky to miss out in three play-offs in PGA Tour event qualifiers in the past 12 months – and I just need the opportunities now. I’ve played in about 15 PGA Tour events, including two last year, and made the cut in both. I’m comfortable out there and excited to play every time I get into an event. I kid people all the time when I say I’ve used up all my luck on just being alive. I’M JUST GRATEFUL TO BE ALIVE, LET ALONE
PLAYING GOLF
JAY MCLUEN
