Emotional Michael Hendry cheered on by wife and kids at The Open just a year after being diagnosed with leukaemia

KIWI Michael Hendry’s round was the most emotional of the day as he made his Open return after serious illness.

Little more than a year ago Hendry, 44, was diagnosed with leukaemia.

2

2

And he was having treatment in hospital when he would have been teeing off at Hoylake.

Yet R&A chiefs extended a special invitation to the New Zealand golfer.

And on Thursday his wife Tara and young children Maddie and Harper were there to watch him shoot 74.

It was the most enjoyable three-over par round of his life.

READ MORE ON GOLF

DERAILED

McIlroy suffers Open nightmare as he smacks wild shot over railway for +7 round

Welcome offer

Get a £50 welcome bonus when you join Sun Vegas and spend £10

Hendry admitted: “It was incredible.

“Words can’t really describe how grateful I am, not only to the R&A, but to all of the doctors and nurses who have helped me over the last 12 months.

“It was extremely special.

“This is one thing that really got me through my recovery – to finally be here and teeing it up was extremely special.”

Most read in Golf

TOP TIPS

Golf betting tips and predictions for the DP World Tour Championship

X-LUSIVE CLUB

How Musk & Trump would transform golf from Cybertruck buggies to play on Mars

FAIRWAY FACELIFT

Iconic golf course where Rahm won set for £5m makeover with plans revealed

CLUB TOGETHER

Tiger reunites with ex-wife who smashed in car with golf club to watch son

CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS

Hendry missed the cut in his two previous Open appearances in 2017 and 2018.

Now he is in remission.

He added: “At no point did I think I wouldn’t play again.

“Even if I was sick, if I was healthy enough, I was going to try and play.”