“PRO” FILES – TOURING PROFESSIONAL JARROD LYLE

Jarrod Lyle is not exactly a household name, but his story is one that needs to be heard. The 31-year-old Lyle, from Shepparton, Victoria, Australia, has battled acute myeloid leukemia for a number of years now, and recently returned to professional golf at the Australian Masters in Melbourne, making the cut. Lyle was first diagnosed with the blood cancer at the age of 17, undergoing chemotherapy. He was able to return to golf 12 months later, and embarked on a professional career. He played on what was then the Nationwide Tour (now Web.com Tour) in 2006 and finished high enough on the money list to earn his PGA Tour card for 2007. In 2008 he won twice on the Nationwide Tour to regain his tour card, but in early 2012 was diagnosed with a recurrence of the leukemia. After another round of chemotherapy and blood transplants from donor umbilical cords, Lyle was told in June that the disease had cleared his body and he prepared to return to golf, playing in the Australian Masters in late November. Lyle’s story has special significance for the USGTF, as four-time United States Golf Teachers Cup champion James Douris was first diagnosed with cancer in March 2012 at the age of 31. Douris, like Lyle, appears well on the road to recovery, and the USGTF wishes both Aussies good health in the future.