SCOTLANDThanks to effective treatment, New Zealand golfer Michael Hendry is healthy enough to compete in The Open 2024 after missing the 2023 tournament due to leukemia.
Henry tees off on hole 14 of the opening round of The Open 2024 on July 18 at Royal Troon par 71 course, Scotland. Photo: AP
Henry tees off on hole 14 of the opening round of The Open 2024 on July 18 at Royal Troon par 71 course, Scotland. Photo: AP
Hendry was confirmed to have leukemia in mid-May 2023, at the age of 43. More than a month earlier, he began to have unusual symptoms. They broke out after he won a spot at The Open 2023 through the Asian Tour in Hong Kong (China). After finishing this tournament, Hendry went to Japan to compete with a T11 result and then got sick. At first, he was always tired and sleepy. Suspected to have Covid-19, Hendry was negative when tested.
Returning to his hometown in Auckland, he was still unwell, many times he slept for half a day, then discovered a lump on his chin so he continued to have further examinations in the hospital. Clinical screening quickly diagnosed Hendry with leukemia. Intensive procedures also confirm the same. "I stared at my children's photos and thought it was unfair that they grew up without a father," Hendry said about his feelings when receiving the bad news.
So Hendry wrote an e-mail right from his hospital bed, sending it to The Open Organizing Committee to announce his absence from the 2023 tournament, forcing him to miss his third attempt at the world's oldest major. The host organization replied: "We will give you a special spot at The Open 2024 in Royal Troon, Scotland. Hope you get well soon to attend there."
Hendry quickly went into chemotherapy, lost 15 kg in just a short time, and was tired just going up and down the stairs. But at the same time, he asked a fitness expert to try to revive his weakened body. When hearing the news that Hendry was seriously ill, many colleagues, caddies and referees sent messages of support. Hendry said each message like that as well as the response from The Open Organizing Committee to meet again gave him mental strength to fight his illness.
Thanks to his determination and his body responding to treatment, Hendry fought again, winning five tournaments in recent months, of which only one was eliminated.
Hendry was disappointed after a bad putt on the green of hole 13 in the first round of The Open 2024. Photo: AP
Hendry was disappointed after a bad putt on the green of hole 13 in the first round of The Open 2024. Photo: AP
On July 19, 2023, Hendry also watched The Open with chemotherapy drugs in his body. But last week, Hendry went to Royal Troon in Scotland to attend the 2024 tournament. "I am extremely grateful to the doctors, family and friends. Thanks to their help over the past year, I can now play The Open. This is "It's a great week, it doesn't matter what the result is," he said before starting the war, with his wife and children cheering him on.
But Hendry soon stopped at The Open 2024 due to scoring +10 after two rounds while the qualifying cutoff was at +6, on the par71 field. The event ended on July 21 with the championship crowned by American golfer Xander Schauffele.
Hendry has played professional golf for 19 years and is a veteran on the Japan Golf Tour. His leukemia has been stopped but needs regular check-ups because traces of it are still in his blood.
