Steve GannKen Green: Back On Tour After Series Of Tragedies
April 27th 2010 00:13
Green, who was a five-time winner on the PGA Tour with $3.7 million in career winnings and 44 top 10 finishes, struggled when mental problems left him helpless on the golf course. He talked openly of children's voices in his head that scuttled his thoughts and left him contemplating suicide as he struggled to stay on the tour.
After two years off from the game he loved, Green joined the Champions Tour. The tour is designed for players 50 and older. He ended the year 54th on the money list with $123,906 in 11 appearances.
Then tragedy number two struck. Green was in a RV crash that killed his brother, his longtime girlfriend, and his beloved dog. Doctors informed him that he would need to have the lower part of his right leg amputated.
Ken adjusted his swing and learned to play again with a prosthetic leg.
Just when Ken was getting ready to return on tour, tragedy struck again. His son was found dead in his SMU dorm room.
Determined to play the game he loved again, Green finally played in his first tournament of the year this past week, pairing with Mike Reid in the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf in Savannah, Ga. The duo shot a best-ball 71 Sunday to finish at 12-under 204, far down the leaderboard of the Champions Tour event.
Now, Green is weighing whether to play in next week's Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic.
"I'll have to make a decision this week," he said. "I've got to learn to play those courses again. I'm just not sure the time is right now."
Green also wants to play an upcoming individual 54-hole event, the Dick's Sporting Goods Classic in Endicott, N.Y.
"If the nerves in my lower leg settle down and I can make the changes I need to make in my swing, I can do this," he said. "And I desperately want to do this."
I don't know anyone who would bet against this survivor.
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