Game shows its heart

PGA Tour player John Senden attended the final round of a recent tournament in the US with his teenage son, Jacob, who is suffering from a brain tumour, to thank his fellow professionals for their support.

They had all worn patches on their caps resembling a Rubik’s Cube, which is the 13-year-old’s favourite toy.

The 46-year-old, a former Australian Open champion and two-time winner on the US PGA Tour, had put his golf career on hold to remain at his US home in Dallas, where Jacob was having treatment.

Senden’s good friend and fellow Aussie Steven Bowditch came up with an idea for tour professionals to show their support. “We’re all thinking of him all the time,” Bowditch said. “Anything we can do to try and put a smile on his face and help him get through this. We just all hope he can punch on through.”

Another Aussie, Cameron Percy, was on the practice green at the earlier Zurich Classic of New Orleans when he heard that Bowditch and his playing partner Rod Pampling had withdrawn from the team event. Soon after, he was informed of the reason.

“I had a tear in my eye,” Percy said. “Everyone felt the same way – just devastated. We had played a practice round in San Antonio the previous week, had dinner twice and we spoke that Friday night. I had no idea. Neither did he. There couldn’t be two nicer people than John and his wife, Jackie. It’s not fair, is it?”

Ernie Els had not been aware of the development until he showed up at the course at TPC Four Seasons and saw the patches of support. Nine years ago, Els announced that his son Ben was autistic, and since then, the South African and his wife Liezl have been instrumental in raising awareness about the disorder.

Many players have donated their time and participated in Els’ charitable functions for his foundation. “It just makes you think,” Els said. “We’re chasing birdies and pars out here, but when you hear something like this, we pull together as a tour, as a friendship, as a unit. We’ve done it with me. We’ve done it with other guys. We’re going to do it for John and his family now.”

Jason Day has dealt with his own family’s cancer issues lately, his mother Dening having been diagnosed in Australia with terminal lung cancer. Day brought his mother to the US, where further tests were done.

Surgery was recently performed that resulted in a much more encouraging diagnosis, and Dening is now back in Australia with an improved outlook. “I know exactly what he’s feeling like in regard to that,” Day said.

Day and his wife Ellie have two young children. Day said he ‘could never fathom thinking about going through something like that’.

“It breaks my heart for him and I’m just hoping and praying for the best for him and his family because it is a difficult time,” he said.

And now the fight begins. Bowditch reports that Jacob had his first treatment last weekend. “I’m sure he’ll pull through and come out the other side,” Bowditch said. “He’s a strong kid.”

Billy Horschel also showed his support after winning the Byron Nelson golf tournament in Irving, Texas.