He might have only just made the cut at the Valero Texas Open in San Antonio today but for 47 year old Queenslander John Senden it may well have felt like a performance of far greater significance and, to add to the joy, it was his birthday.
Twelve months ago, following this very event, Senden took a break from the game to be with his son Jacob who was undergoing heavy treatment for a brain tumour highlighting that for Senden and most others who would find themselves in such a predicament attending to family comes first.
Senden returned to competitive golf a month ago at the Web.Com Tour event in Louisiana where he missed the cut and did so again at last week’s RBC Heritage Classic but with those two outings now under his belt and the improvement competitive golf offers he has produced a second round of 70 to be in 48th position.
Senden a two time winner on the PGA Tour in addition to his 2006 Australian Open Championship title, has been a solid performer on the PGA Tour since first joining it in 2002 and has since secured earnings of US$21.5 million on that tour alone.
Senden has what is known as a ‘Family Crisis’ exemption to the PGA Tour where he has 13 starts to earn 310 FedEx Cup points – the amount needed to finish 125th last season.
Jacob Senden still has a tough road ahead, but the tumour has reduced in size, and for father John that he has been able to be there for his son and yet successfully return to one of the other great loves of his life (golf) today must have been an emotional one in so many ways.
Congratulations John Senden.
