‘My time was short’: Australian golfer Jarrod Lyle dies aged 36
Related Story: 'His poor body can't take any more': Golfer Jarrod Lyle goes into palliative care
Australian golfer Jarrod Lyle has died of cancer aged 36.
Key points:
- Jarrod Lyle made the decision to enter palliative care August 1
- In a final statement he said his "time was short … but hopefully it wasn't wasted"
- He is survived by his wife Briony, and daughters Lusi and Jemma
It comes just eight days after he decided to end his treatment to go into palliative care.
Lyle had been undergoing his third stint of cancer treatment after a recurrence of acute myeloid leukaemia last year.
He is survived by his wife Briony, and daughters Lusi, 6, and Jemma, 2.
"It breaks my heart to tell everyone that Jarrod is no longer with us," Ms Lyle said in a statement.
Ms Lyle said he died at 8:20pm Wednesday evening, surrounded by friends and family in Torquay.
"He asked that I provide a simple message: 'Thanks for your support, it meant the world. My time was short, but if I've helped people think and act on behalf of those families who suffer through cancer, hopefully it wasn't wasted'."
Lyle had twice beaten cancer, in 1998 as a teenager and again in 2012, and returned to play professional golf prior to the third reoccurrence of his illness.
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 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.
'It's a very sad day'
Mark Hayes from Golf Australia said his loss would be felt deeply not just among the golfing community but across the country.
"It's incredibly sad and it's probably a blessed relief. It's a very sad day," Mr Hayes said.
Former PGA tour player Tripp Isenhour took to Twitter to express his sadness at the news of Lyle's death.
The announcement earlier this month that Lyle had entered palliative care was met with an outpouring of support from the golfing community.
Adam Scott was almost overcome with emotion when speaking at last week's World Golf Championships-Bridgestone International.
"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."
There will be a public memorial service at The Sands in Torquay at a date to be announced.
Many of Lyle's friends and competitors from his days on Tour are getting ready for the year's final major tournament, the PGA Championship, at Bellerive Golf Course in Missouri.
Players will begin the first round just before midnight AEST.
The winner of the traditional pre-tournament Long Drive competition, American golfer Bryson de Chambeau, has said he would donate his $US25,000 ($33,640) charity winnings to Lyle's family.
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