Victorian pro Jarrod Lyle has confirmed he will make his professional return at the Australian Masters in November as his recovery from a second bout of leukaemia continues. “I&aposve made the decision to play the Masters this year as a test to see where everything is at before I look to head back to the States and the PGA Tour,” Lyle said in an exclusive interview with Luke Elvy published in the Daily Telegraph today. It&aposs been nothing short of a rollercoaster 18 months for the young Victorian – enjoying his marriage to wife Briony, the birth of his daughter Lusi and battling the effects of a second bout of the illness which struck him down earlier in his life. “That first tee shot is going to be for everybody who&aposs supported me through all of this, but especially for my girls, Bri and Lusi..I will be smiling from ear to ear for at least 36 holes. I&aposll enjoy the whole atmosphere, whether I play well or not,” Lyle said. In an emotion-charged press conference at last year&aposs Masters at Kingston Heath in Melbourne, Lyle described the birth of his first child as “best moment of my life,” before doctors advised him he had 12 hours before he needed to start his treatment. “It was probably the hardest moment of my life,&apos&apos Lyle said, choking back tears. “Going through the chemo and the transplant and all that was nothing compared to realising that I only had 12 hours with my brand new daughter.” In light of the health battle, the international golf family has gathered around Lyle with messages of support coming from his fellow players on the PGA Tour. “They put together a 40 minute video of messages for me from the other guys and I cried for 40 minutes,” Lyle said in November. “To see everyone at Bay Hill wearing the Leuk the Duck badges was a real lift – to see Tiger wearing one when he won was great.” Lyle last played on the PGA Tour at the Mayakoba Golf Classic in Mexico in early 2012 where he finished in a tie for 37th.
Author: Golf Australia