Golf

Colleyville’s Ryan Palmer encouraged by results on and off golf course

By Doug Ferguson

The Associated Press
Ryan Palmer is 9 under through two rounds of the Honda Classic in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. The Colleyville resident spent most of the past four months at home while his wife underwent treatment for breast cancer.
Ryan Palmer is 9 under through two rounds of the Honda Classic in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. The Colleyville resident spent most of the past four months at home while his wife underwent treatment for breast cancer. Wilfredo Lee AP
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla.

Ryan Palmer has reason to believe that better days are ahead, with his golf game and at home.

Palmer, a Colleyville resident and Colonial member, made seven birdies Friday on another day of ideal scoring conditions at PGA National for a 5-under 65 that gave him a share of the lead with PGA Tour rookie Wesley Bryan (67) going into the weekend at the Honda Classic.

Rickie Fowler was a shot back after his second 66, and Anirban Lahiri was another stroke behind after a 68.

Starting a new year packed with uncertainty over matters far more important than golf, Palmer returned from a four-month break and missed the cut in his first four events. He signed up for Riviera only because his game needed work, and he saw enough go right to find some momentum going into Florida.

The long break was to be at home with his wife, Jennifer, who is recovering from breast cancer.

There were times when she said I should have gone and played. I was going to play Vegas and I was going to play Malaysia, but after that, there was no way I could play golf.

Ryan Palmer

whose wife was diagnosed last summer with breast cancer

She was diagnosed with Stage 2 cancer in late July while he was at the Canadian Open. She had surgery about five weeks later. Palmer’s season ended in September, and he spent the rest of the year helping her cope with chemotherapy and at home with their two children.

“I watched a few tournaments,” Palmer said. “There were times when she said I should have gone and played. I was going to play Vegas and I was going to play Malaysia, but after that, there was no way I could play golf. Enjoyed time at home, took care of the kids. But it was a lot of hard times, for sure.”

She was diagnosed relatively early, and the timing helped in other ways.

Palmer was able to reach out to Stewart Cink, whose wife is battling breast cancer. And the week after he learned his wife had breast cancer, Palmer sought out Phil Mickelson at the PGA Championship. Mickelson’s wife was diagnosed in 2009.

“And he went right to work and made phone calls for me,” Palmer said. “I can’t think him enough for what he did. It’s been a long ride.”

This story was originally published February 24, 2017 at 9:04 PM with the headline "Colleyville’s Ryan Palmer encouraged by results on and off golf course."

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