‘His poor body can’t take any more’: Golfer Jarrod Lyle goes into palliative care
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Australian golfer Jarrod Lyle will spend his final days surrounded by loved ones after making the decision to go into palliative care.
The 36-year-old has been undergoing his third stint of cancer treatment after a recurrence of acute myeloid leukaemia last year.
There has been an outpouring of sadness from golf fans around the world after his wife Briony updated Lyle's social media pages last night.
Briony has been posting about her husband's deteriorating health during recent months, but her most recent update to his followers on Facebook and Instagram confirmed the bad news.
"Earlier today Jarrod made the decision to stop active treatment and begin palliative care," Briony wrote.
"He has given everything that he's got to give, and his poor body cannot take any more.
"We'll be taking him closer to home in the next couple of days so he can finally leave the hospital.
"We have done our best to 'control' the narrative surrounding Jarrod's illness and treatment, and as more and more people become involved in this final process I'm not sure how much longer this development will remain private.
"Jarrod knows he is loved, and the thousands of prayers and well wishes that have been sent his way have kept him going through some incredibly tough times.
"But he has reached his limit, and the docs have finally agreed that they can no longer strive for a positive outcome."
Lyle twice beat cancer, in 1998 as a teenager and again in 2012, and returned to play professional golf.
He made an emotional comeback to the course during the 2013 Australian Masters before trying his luck at using a medical exemption to win back his PGA Tour card in 2015.
The PGA Tour set up a fund to help Briony and their two children Lusi and Jemma with medical costs throughout his health battles.
Lyle claimed two professional victories through his career, both in 2008 at the Mexican Open and Knoxville Open, and has a career-high USPGA ranking of 196.
Pros send support to 'one of the best blokes there is'
An emotional Adam Scott has joined a chorus of Australian golfers sending heartfelt support to Lyle.
Speaking at Ohio's Firestone Country Club ahead of the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational, former world number one Scott said Lyle had been an inspiration for 20 years.
"I can't imagine being in that position; it's unthinkable," Scott said.
"He is one of the best blokes there is. Given all the difficulties he's had since his late teens, he has lived the best life he could with the tough cards he has been dealt.
"He played such good golf while battling illness; he has been through it all.
"His positivity and general demeanour has been so good and so infectious on others. It's a good way to think of how I should live my life.
"It shouldn't have to have something like this to remember that's what it's all about."
Former world number one Jason Day said the news hit him hard given his mother Dening was treated for lung cancer last year and his father Alvin died of stomach cancer when Day was young.
"It's hard news to take and it is so unfortunate," Day said.
"It puts things in perspective. We are out here trying to compete but at the end of the day there is life and family we need to be there for.
"We all love Jarrod. He's such a good bloke. It's not fair he's going through this."
Three-time US Tour winner Marc Leishman was also emotional.
"I'm absolutely gutted for the whole family, Briony and the kids," Leishman said.
"It's been a hard road for Jarrod for so long, and he has fought so hard.
"He has always been the life of the party. He is a larger-than-life character and an inspiration to so many of us."
External Link: Ernie Els tweet: Just heard the news about Jarrod Lyle. Life is very precious and you have been so strong. We are thinking and praying for you and your family now more than ever. – Ernie, Liezl, Samantha and Ben External Link: Tommy Fleetwood tweet: Thank you for being an inspiration @jarrodlylepga. Your bravery and strength has been so admirable and we all salute you. Please know that your journey hasnt been alone, thinking of you and the family External Link: Dwayne Johnson tweet: Man this is a tough one. Sending so much love, light and strength to Jarrod and his Lyle family.
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