The career of one of Australia’s most promising rookie pros, Helen Oh is on hold after she announced she has cancer.
The 2006 Australian Amateur champion has a growth in her right gluteus muscle and will undergo chemotherapy next week.
“I am done with all the crying,” the 20 year old said.
The diagnosis is a shattering blow to Oh who was planning to attend LPGA Q school in Palm Springs, California next month with fellow pro and 2007 Australian Amateur Champion, Sunny Park.
“Initially I was still going to go and hopefully get my card and then get a medical exemption but after the doctors did more tests they decided the lump needed to be treated straight away,” she said.
“I guess it’s better that way anyway because I think it would have been fairly difficult to focus on my golf.”
Oh will be hospitalised for chemotherapy next Wednesday and will follow it up with radiation treatment in an attempt to reduce the size of the lump. Doctors will then operate to remove the tumour.
“The doctors told me they are treating it aggressively because I am a golfer,” Oh said.
“They think the rehab will be a long process because they expect I won’t be able to walk for about two to three weeks after the surgery.”
Oh has had the lump in her gluteus muscle for several years and only recently had it examined.
“I believe things happen for a reason, and I guess this has happened to me now to make me a stronger person,” she said.
The brave Sydneysider has just completed her first year as a rookie and found the last 12 months difficult to advance her career.
She narrowly missed progressing to the second stage of the LPGA Q-School last year and then returned home to compete on the local tour. She had a solid first up effort making the cut at the Australian and NSW Opens and also winning the St Michaels Golf Club ALPG Classic.
After playing on the Australian season where she finished 13th on the money list, Oh was originally scheduled to compete on the newly created Victory Tour in the United States. However the tour was abruptly cancelled a week before it was due to start.
That meant Oh, along with Park were forced to remain in Australia to prepare for the September LPGA Q school.
All winter Oh has spent endless hours on her home course at Concord. It would be fair enough to question was it all worth it but you won’t hear that from the 20-year-old. Her positive approach is inspirational.
“I think once I have the surgery and go through the rehab I will have about three solid months where I can practice and get myself ready for next year’s Q-School,” she said.
“I am only 20 so I have a lot of time to get there.”
For her friend, Sunny Park, the news has been crushing.
“This may sound weird but I have been having nightmares for weeks and I couldn’t work out why because personally I am really very happy,” she said.
“When Helen told me she had cancer I was in shock. She is just so young but she is so positive, she’s amazing. Since her awful news the nightmares have stopped.”
Talking about the LPGA Q-School under such circumstances is awkward for Park because right now she is very upbeat about her chances next month, all thanks to a new coach, The Lakes’ Richard Flood.
“I was struggling with my game and I was just unsure about everything. I went to Richard and my game has changed so much,” she said.
“I have been with him for seven weeks and I think I have learned more in that time than I have learned for the past five years.
“It is the first time I have had a coach walk around the course with me and he has changed my focus so much.”
Park says she has spent most of her time working on her short game.
“I know on the LPGA how important your short game is and since working with Richard it has really improved.”
“I am just so excited about the changes I am really looking forward to going over because I have decided that the US is where I want to base myself so I am going to work very hard to achieve that.”
“It’s a shame Helen won’t be with me but she has been really good to me about going, she is just such a great person.”
Thankfully for Oh her cancer is not considered life threatening. She has no doubt she will be back hitting balls soon.
“I am sure I will be okay and I look forward to getting back out on the course next year.”
