Round Of A Lifetime Foundation recipient
Teen sports fanatic who had to give up beloved hurling and cycling after heart defect diagnosis is about to fulfill a golfer’s dream at Sawgrass, thanks to the Round Of A Lifetime Foundation
To be honest, I thought golf was boring when I was younger but I can’t get enough of it now
PLAYING the terrifying island green 17th at TPC Sawgrass would not be most people’s idea of a relaxing day out for someone with a heart condition.
But it holds no fear for big Sean O’Neill, who is about to play the PGA Tour’s flagship course thanks to the Round Of A Lifetime Foundation.
It’s not that the towering 19-year old from Newtown in Co Tipperary is the next Rory McIlroy, even if he is a 6’5” big hitter.
It’s simply that golf has become his sporting passion since he was diagnosed with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy and told he had to give up hurling and cycling and do something a little less stressful instead.
It was a massive physical and psychological blow at first and led to anger and frustration.
But after undergoing surgery to implant an internal defibrillator, Sean’s now an avid 14-handicapper, dreaming of one day getting down to single figures.
It’s another great example of golf as a sport for all and both Sean and his father are hugely grateful to the Round Of A Lifetime Foundation as they prepare to head off next week with two friends for an all expenses paid trip to Jacksonville.
It’s not that the course doesn’t give these Nenagh Golf Club stalwarts the heebeegeebies. But after a few tough years coming to terms with his heart condition, it’s clear now that golf has given Sean a sporting outlet to fill the void.
“To be honest, I thought golf was boring when I was younger but I can’t get enough of it now,” said Sean, who is in his first year as a student of Engineering at the University of Limerick and living life to the full.
“I loved my GAA and going cycling with Nenagh Cycling Club but it was only because we had free screening in school that they discovered this problem when I was 16.
“The cardiologist said I’d have to give up all the sports I did, which made me a bit depressed.
“Dad suggest golf but I was not in the mood for talking about playing golf at all. I was still annoyed I couldn’t play hurling and I didn’t take to it immediately because it is a very frustrating sport. But it’s so addictive, I just love it now and I can’t wait for Sawgrass.”
The US-based Round of a Lifetime Foundation was set up in memory of Andrew Maciey, who passed away from Familial Dilated Cardiomyopathy at the age of 24.
The purpose of the Foundation is to provide the opportunity for those suffering from congenital heart disease, and their loved ones, to play an unforgettable round of golf at a world-class course.
And it proved the perfect opportunity for Sean’s father Ger to find a way of cheering his son up after a tough period in his life.
“Sean is 19 now and he was diagnosed just after he turned 16,” Ger explained. “He was sports mad – an avid hurler with Burgess and mad into cycling. Growing up he was fine though he did get quite tired at times, which we put down to part of growing up.
“But then he was screened at school, St Joseph’s CBS in Nenagh, and they realised his heart wasn’t beating right. So he was sent up to Our Lady’s Hospital in Crumlin and was diagnosed with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, which meant he was at very high risk of sudden cardiac arrest.
“He had an internal defibrillator fitted at St James’ – at 6’5” he was too tall to fit on the operating tables at the Children’s Hospital in Crumlin!
“But on his 18th birthday, he felt faint coming out of the shower and it took six shocks to get him back. So it was horrific for him.
“He can’t do any physical sports so Prof. Kevin Walsh, who is a consultant at The Mater Hospital, advised him to take up golf.”
Sean was in no mood for talking about golf when those electric shocks reminded him of his condition.
But he has since realised how lucky he is to be able to play any physical sport and made golf his passion.
His father was thrilled to receive a call from the Round Of A Lifetime Foundation telling him that his application had been successful.
“Psychologically it is tough, wondering when the internal defibrillator is going to go off,” Ger said. “So I was looking for something to give him a boost and came across the Round Of A Lifetime Foundation and applied, never thinking he would have a chance.
“But I got word in February that he was selected so we are off next Thursday to Sawgrass – myself, Sean, his friend Killian Malone, and our next door neighbour Pat Stanley – all expenses paid.
“We are all members of Nenagh but we are looking forward to playing the Stadium Course.”
It’s been a tough few years for all, especially Sean, but his father could not be prouder.
“Getting into UL was unbelievable in itself,” he said. “Just going back to school after getting those shocks was tough going but he did brilliantly.”
As for Sean, finding dry land on the 17th would be nothing more than a bonus.
“I got shocked about six times towards the end of the summer and that brought it all back to me that I have this condition,” he said.
“But golf has been great. I realise that lot of people are a lot of worse off than me. At least I am able to play golf.”