FROM THE ROUGH
Former Coast pro’s stunning recovery to chase golf dream
THREE years ago a brain aneurysm shattered Christopher McCourt’s world and put him on the brink of death.
Now he stands on the cusp of a shot at Australian PGA Championship glory in an inspirational turnaround for the former Gold Coast professional.
McCourt was enjoying a break while working as a painter on June 24, 2014 when he was plunged in to a nightmare.
“It was about 10am then I woke up about 1am in the morning in the ICU (intensive care unit),” McCourt said.
“I was diagnosed with a brain tumour and that’s how they found it. I didn’t have any symptoms.
“The tumour bled and so I had a brain aneurysm.”
“They told my whole family the bleed will either sort itself out or I’ll die,” Mc Court said.
“The seizure I had lasted for about eight hours. I felt like I had been beaten up the next day because my body was shaking for about eight hours, they couldn’t stop it.”
Doctors gave him a 50-50 chance of surviving and thankfully for McCourt’s wife Robin and step-daughters Katie, now 23, and Emily, 21, he lived.
The former Palm Meadows, Parkwood and Gold Coast Country Club pro gave up golf 12 years earlier, a career that included seven Australian PGA Championship showings.
The closest he came to the title was making the cut for the final day. Doctors were able to shrink the tumour but were unable to remove it because it is located on the front-left side of McCourt’s brain and it would be too dangerous to operate on.
In a twist of fate it was the tumour that led to McCourt’s return to golf and his comeback to one of the biggest events in Australia.
Told he could no longer climb ladders, McCourt went for the teaching pro position at Keppera Country Golf Club three months ago.
“Golf is something I have always loved,” McCourt said.
McCourt barely picked up a club in a decade before joining Keppera and only decided three weeks ago to enter the PGA Championship qualifier, held on Monday at his home course. He shot four-under 68 to finish second and secure one of six spots up for grabs across two events.
McCourt’s battle has made him a beacon of hope for close friend and fellow Australian John Senden, who has taken compassionate leave from the US Tour to focus on son Jacob, 13, who was diagnosed with a brain tumour six months ago.