Jarrod Lyle takes another step back in his amazing return from twice beating leukaemia, and this one might be the biggest one yet.
The Australian earned his spot in the Frys.com Open through a playoff at Monday qualifying.
And he’s back among the best players in the world on the PGA Tour, part of a family he never knew was so large.
Lyle got choked up Wednesday talking about a DVD he was given shortly after leukaemia returned in March 2012, right about the time his wife was due to give birth to their daughter. Golf Channel arranged for players at Bay Hill to say a few encouraging words to the Australian.
“I watched it and I cried for 45 minutes,” Lyle said Wednesday.
“I still cry when I look at it. These guys were taking 30 seconds out of their day to jump on camera to wish me all the best, guys that I probably haven’t spoken to much or haven’t played with before.
“But to see those guys get on there and just wish us all the best, that meant the world, and it showed me how much support that I had from my competitors and my peers over here.”
This is the third time Lyle has returned to a tour.
The most emotional was at home in Australia last December, when he made the cut riding a wave of support. He came back to America this summer to play on the Web.com Tour as he continued to work on his game.
The Frys.com Open was not on his schedule. Lyle received a sponsor’s exemption to the tournament next week in Las Vegas. He did not receive one to the Frys.com Open, so he decided to go through Monday qualifying. Nothing comes easily to Lyle, and he never complains.
Instead, he shot a 66 to get into an eight-man playoff for four spots. He made a 20-foot birdie putt on the second hole and was in.
He will head home to Australia after next week to get his blood tested as a precaution.
Lyle is no longer taking any treatment except for a penicillin tablet he takes once a day for the rest of his life.
He has 20 events to earn $US283,825 ($A307,000) and reach the equivalent of No. 125 on the money list in 2012 to keep his PGA Tour card.
