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The craziest story in sports right now is how JJ Spawn went from a misdiagnosed diabetic ranked outside the top 500 to a US Open champion. It’s no secret that TV ratings soar when Royer Bryson contended a major. But Spawn represents everything that is great about sports. While many top players took lessons at $100,000 country clubs by age 10. Spawn grew up playing on a 9-hole public course in California. He wasn’t recruited out of high school, so he walked on at San Diego State. Even after becoming a two-time all-American, Spawn had to grind it out in Canada. In 2014, he made one cut and earned just $825. Yes, for the entire year, not including the tens of thousands of dollars in expenses he had to pay without sponsors. Now, he eventually earned his PJ tour card in 2016, but then tragedy struck. Spawn felt lethargic, dropped over 40 lbs, and was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. He overhauled his diet and training, but kept losing weight and even lost his PJ tour card in 2020 after falling to 584th in the World Golf Ranking. Then came a second opinion. The diagnosis was wrong. Spawn had type 1 diabetes, which requires an entirely different protocol. He adjusted, got healthy, gained some weight, and made it back to the PGA Tour. Now JJ Spawn is one of the world’s best golfers. He finished second at the players and won the US Open. Even better, Spawn has now earned $10 million this year and is a lock for the writer cup at Bet Page
2 Comments
Not a sport. Golf is a game for fats
A T1D diagnosis that late in life is wild