Ken Green says loss of leg won’t keep him off tour
September 28, 2009
DANBURY, Conn. (AP)—Ken Green has overcome depression, financial troubles anda bad back. He doesn’t plan on letting the loss of a leg keep him off theChampions Tour.
The pro golfer had his lower right leg amputated after an accident in Junethat killed his brother and girlfriend. He said Monday that he hopes to be backon the tour by April.
“It’s probably not realistic, July might be better,” Green told TheAssociated Press. “But I don’t know, I’ve never done this before. The questionis, can I get back to the highest level? Our level and just golf are twodifferent worlds.”
The five-time winner on the PGA Tour was in his hometown, where prosincluding Fred Funk, Curtis Strange, Mark Calcavecchia and Phil Blackmar playedat the Ridgewood Country Club to help raise money to pay some of his medical andpersonal expenses. They expect the event will bring in about $150,000, and plana similar fundraiser in Florida in November.
Ken Green, right, embraces his… AP – Sep 28, 5:02 pm EDT Ken Green, right, embraces his… AP – Sep 28, 5:02 pm EDT
Phil Blackmar, right, gives a … AP – Sep 28, 5:00 pm EDT
Ken Green, right, prepares to … AP – Sep 28, 4:53 pm EDT
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Green was with his brother Billy, his girlfriend Jeannie Hodgin, and his dogNip on June 8, when the RV his brother was driving blew a tire and went offInterstate 20 near Hickory, Miss, hitting a tree.
Ken Green was the only survivor.
Green says he doesn’t remember the accident, just waking up in the hospital.He said the doctors told him they might be able save his leg, but that it wouldnever function properly.
“I told them to cut it off, because that was my only chance,” he said. “Iwouldn’t have been able to swing properly with that leg the way it was.”
Green’s sister, Shelley White, has been with him since the accident. Shesaid he has been focused on golf almost since the moment he woke up. Green, whois being fitted with a special prosthetic that includes an ankle that willpivot, had hoped to be able to play a few holes on Monday, but said the pain inhis leg would not allow it.
“He has no patience,” White said. “He wants everything to happen atonce.”
Green said this isn’t the toughest thing he’s ever been through. Aftergaining a reputation as one of the most outspoken golfers on the PGA tour, hewent through a bout with depression in the 1990s, which combined with a backinjury almost cost him his golf career.
He lost his Tour card in 2000, and said he made no money between 2005 and2008, the year he turned 50 and became eligible for the Champions Tour.
He was 54th on the money list with $123,906 in 11 appearances at the time ofthe accident.
“When I was fighting through my depression, that, I believe was harder,because I didn’t know I was in it,” he said. “Whereas this one, you know whatyou have to tackle. You have to get your leg, then you have to go change yourswing, and then you have to go start playing like a pro again.”
Phil Blackmar, right, gives a … AP – Sep 28, 5:00 pm EDT
Calcavecchia, a longtime friend, said he’s among those who believe Green canmake it all the way back.
“This is going to have a happy ending for sure,” Calcavecchia said. “Evenif he doesn’t get back to the level he wants to. He just wants to play golf. Andif he does reach his goal—beating some guys on Champions Tour—well, he knowshe’s going to make history if he does that.”
Green acknowledges that he lost a lot in the accident, but said he’s neverbeen one to ask, “Why me?”
“Obviously, I lost three of my best friends and I think I’d be doing them adishonor if I didn’t come back from this,” he said. “Just ‘cause I lost a leg,you have to say, ‘OK, we’ll work around that.”’
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