“Needed to play golf for my sanity” - Monday Qualifier Brett White on how golf helped him battle a brain infection
Six years ago, Brett White had no idea that he would be able to play golf again. The American golfer was hospitalized due to viral encephalitis that caused his brain to swell.
Ever since White started playing the game at the age of eight, golf has been his passion. But six years earlier, there was a close-call experiment. However, he is back to compete on the PGA Tour.
Brett White played in Monday's qualifying round for the WM Phoenix Open, where Andre Metzger registered his win, while Dalton Ward and Brett White qualified to compete at the tournament.
Six years ago, Brett White wasn't sure if he'd ever be able to play golf again. Today, he makes his @PGATOUR debut at the @WMPhoenixOpen!
@bwhitey08 shares the story of his incredible journey back to health and professional golf with @damonhackGC & @eamonlynch. https://t.co/xDayOqjFuo
The PGA Tour posted a video of Brett White talking about his health with the following caption:
"I knew I needed to play golf for my sanity,” Brett White said.
“I knew I needed to play golf for my sanity.”
Brett White documents how golf was the driving force in his recovery process.
His inspirational story adds a new chapter @WMPhoenixOpen. https://t.co/ovkDB6oqaw
The clip saw White saying:
"It was kind of simple. It was just like, try and get better every day. I mean it was like that. I would do hours of physical therapy, I would do speech therapy cause my speech was affected. I did occupational therapy to get my motor skills down and writing again. But it was just about, okay once I break one barrier, what's the next one?"
He went on to say:
"Golf motivated me through that. I knew I needed to be able to play golf just for my sanity. I didn't know what level it was going to be but it's just a part of my identity. Golf health, cause I was outside, I was walking, I was on an uneven surface and just tried to get better every day."
His love for the game motivated him and finally, the star is back on the field. The WM Phoenix Open will conclude with the finale on Sunday, February 12.
"I’ve tried to get better every day" - Brett White talks about his therapy
Brett White suffered from medical complications and was hospitalized. His brain was attacked by a virus that led to swelling. The doctor advised him to stay away from golf. His condition went downhill, but he remained positive for all those years.
In one of his interviews, as reported by Golf Channel two years back, Brett White opened up about his suffering. He was thankful that he was getting better after having a near-to-death experience. He said:
"It’s been a wild ride. Over a long journey, sometimes you go back and go, wow, I gotta be thankful for where I’m at. There was a point in the hospital where it was, hey, let’s make sure you can be on your own; and then it was, OK, I want to be able to run around with my kids; then it was, let’s play golf for fun; and it just kept on progressing. I’ve tried to get better every day, and I don’t think I’ve stopped.”
Six years ago, Monday Qualifier Brett White had to relearn how to walk and talk after battling a brain infection.
Today he makes his TOUR debut on the ‘Greatest Show on Grass’ @WMPhoenixOpen. https://t.co/U1kTPo3mVk
White vowed to get back to the golf course and eventually returned to compete at the 2023 WM Phoenix Open. After the first round, he finished at T117 with a score of four. Nick Taylor is leading the board after the opening round alongside Adam Hadwin.