A golfer has been given an exemption to play in The Open at Royal Troon after missing last year's tournament following a cancer diagnosis. Michael Hendry, who plays primarily on the Japan Golf Tour, is on the road to recovery after enduring a turbulent time over the last 12 months.
The 44-year-old was diagnosed with leukaemia in May last year, forcing him to withdraw from The Open at Royal Liverpool. He qualified for the tournament by finishing second at the World City Championship on the Asian Tour but was unable to take part due to his illness.
After several rounds of chemotherapy, Hendry is fit enough to play golf again and has been given the opportunity to feature at Royal Troon after receiving an exemption from the R&A.
Explaining to Sky Sports, he said: "It is great to be back. I'm just stoked to be here after all the stuff I've been through over the past 12 months.
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"Last year, I qualified for the Open in Hong Kong on the Asian Tour and I was getting ready to go and then two weeks later I got diagnosed with leukaemia. I spent about four months in hospital in and out, a lot of chemo and all that sort of stuff.
"But the R&A were really gracious and extended my exemption into this year, so I'm really excited to have another crack."
Hendry returned to the golf course in October, winning the DVS Clearwater Open shortly after making his comeback. He holed the decisive putt on his 44th birthday, making it even sweeter, before claiming another title at the For The Players By The Players event in May.
Opening up on his cancer journey in an interview with the New Zealand Herald, he explained that knowing he had a spot at this year's Open was incredibly motivating throughout his recovery process.
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"Even before last year’s Open was played, the R&A had told me that they were going to see my exemption good for this year," he said.
"I’m really looking forward to that and just trying to get myself in good form come July and hopefully I can make up for my missed opportunity last year. It was huge. I can’t undersell how important it was for me.
"What I was going through with my leukaemia battle and the chemotherapy and all that sort of stuff, to know that I had something like The Open to look forward to and push towards. The things I hadn’t achieved that I still wanted to achieve were just huge.
"It really gave me something to look forward to and live for. It was great and I think it was a huge part of my success thus far in my recovery. They were very gracious."
