Alberta boy wins hearts at Augusta
Surgeons at Edmonton’s Stollery Children’s Hospital two years ago successfully performed a delicate operation to end the hand trembling and balance problems a benign inoperable brain tumour caused Spruce Grove’s Ethan Couch.
Fast-forward ahead to Wednesday and there was a smiling 13-year-old Ethan, decked out in white from head to toe like all the other caddies at the home of the Masters golf tournament, on U.S. national TV as he carried the bag of pro Kevin Streelman during Augusta National’s annual Par 3 Contest.
Streelman, with his young caddy by his side, won the event in a three-hole playoff over Camilo Villegas.
“It was unbelievable,” Ethan said.
It was all thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions.
“When I made a wish, I sure didn’t expect this. Not at all,” Ethan said. “And then to win it. … Although while winning was awesome, it was all so good.”
Ethan said Streelman was “awesome. He was super nice. He talked to me the whole way around. He let me read some of his putts. I think I was right most of the time.”
Then on the ninth hole, Streelman went one better. He let Ethan hit a shot — an 8-iron from 113 yards.
That’s when the tension really got the better of him.
“I was so nervous. My hands were so sweaty that I chunked it into the water.”
Ethan soon discovered the power of the media and his tale from the operating room to the greens of Augusta became the feel-good story of the day.
“This isn’t about me today,” Streelman told the BBC. “It’s about helping him out and showing him a great day.”
That mission was certainly accomplished.
As well as Streelman, who shot a 2-under 70 in Thursday’s first round of the Masters, Ethan got to meet Rich Beem and Ian Poulter, who were also in the threesome. That was just for starters. “I got to meet some of my favourite golfers: Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, Jason Day, Charles Coody, Paul Azinger … Just so many of them.
“I’m still very excited. I’ll never forget it.”
Ethan has quickly become a celebrity at Augusta. He has done countless interviews. His dad, Jeff, a former professional golfer, said his son is being recognized wherever he goes.
As well as his dad, Ethan’s mother, Jennifer, and his 10-year-old brother, Evan, also made the trip.
A good golfer in his own right, Ethan started last year with a handicap of 27. By season’s end he had whittled it down to 17.
“I’d love to be a pro golfer; I really love the game,” said Ethan, whose home course is the Glendale Golf & Country Club in Edmonton, where his mom, dad and grandfather, Dave, are members.
Ethan’s parents first realized something was wrong with their son in 2013 when his hands started trembling and he kept losing his balance.
While the surgeons at the Stollery were unable to remove the tumour, they were able to drill a hole in Ethan’s brain so spinal cord fluid could once again flow between the third and fourth ventricles.
“The prognosis is good and hopefully it stays that way,” his dad Jeff said.