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We don’t know the outcome.
We don’t know what’s going to happen.
Sports are the realist reality shows we have.
I like that thought. It came last week from Rory McIlroy, after being asked to opine on sports viewing following the happenings at the Ryder Cup.
And the quote’s apropos in sharing the story of a tie for 10th at an event in western Australia.
A year ago, anyone watching Jeffrey Guan expected such finishes. Or better. And on the highest levels. The Australian was one of the next big things. Twice, he won the Australian Junior Amateur. In 2022, he won the Junior Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass. Last year, on a sponsor’s exemption, he played at the PGA Tour’s Procore Championship. Soon after that event, he returned home.
And in a pro-am in September of 2024, the left side of his face was struck by a ball. He underwent procedures.
He lost vision in his left eye.
But he kept hope. And his swing.
And there Guan was, in late August, playing. He missed the cut in that first tournament back. But then, at that event in western Australia, the CKB WA PGA Championship held earlier this month, Guan finished 10th. And a few days later, on an Instagram post, he wrote this:
A year ago, I wouldn’t have believed I’d play golf again, let alone compete on tour. The journey back has been anything but easy. Mentally, it’s been one of the toughest battles I’ve ever faced. At that point, I wasn’t just injured or out of form. I was mentally and emotionally drained, unsure if I’d ever find my way back. Golf has always been a huge part of my life, but when things fell apart, I felt like I lost a piece of who I was. The pressure, the setbacks, the self doubt … it all built up. There were days I couldn’t even look at my clubs. Days where just getting out of bed felt like a win. I questioned everything. My ability, my worth, whether I was done for good.
But this week finishing in the top 10 has proved myself wrong. Here I am. Back. And so truly, incredibly grateful.
To those who stood by me when I couldn’t see a way forward, thank you. Your support, patience and belief in me carried me through the hardest days. I truly wouldn’t be here without you.
Feeling nothing but joy, gratitude and excitement to be back doing what I love.
