Golfers beating the odds

Five others apart from Erik Compton who overcame physical challenges.

US Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger. Chip East / Reuters

The National’s sports writers look at some of the unlikely sporting success stories going on in the world. Be it a flourishing where you would not expect it, or an athlete overcoming great challenges to take part, we will be telling their stories over the coming days.

Here are five golfers who overcame challengers apart from Erik Compton. Read his story here.

Paul Azinger

The winner of the 1993 PGA Championship had to take a season away from the game in 1994 to battle lymphoma, a form of cancer that often proves fatal. Not only did he fend off the disease, he made a successful return to the game serving as a winning Ryder Cup captain.

Stacy Lewis

The American LPGA star had scoliosis as a child – a rarity for any sports figure at the top of their profession – and plays with a corrective metal rod on her spine. Lewis, who also had spinal fusion, remains one of the best players in the women’s game and is a double major champion.

Scott Verplank

The diabetic was one of golf’s top college stars of the past half-century, winning a PGA Tour event as an amateur in 1985. He became one of the first sports figures to play with an insulin pump on his belt, yet he climbed to 11th in the world and won eight times on the US tour.

Jarrod Lyle

One of the most popular players on the PGA Tour, the Australian has survived two battles with leukaemia and is in the middle of a second comeback attempt. Two years ago, when he was diagnosed for the second time, players wore pins to generate awareness for his plight.

Ken Venturi

A US Open winner, Venturi’s career was cut short after 14 victories by carpal tunnel syndrome. Venture moved to the broadcast booth, where he logged 35 years for American broadcaster CBS Sports. Unknown to many was the fact Venturi was a chronic stutterer as a youth.