+ 10 Herald Sun, Saturday, April 21, 2012 heraldsun.com.au + NEWS FOR BREAKING NEWS heraldsun.com.au LYLE DIGS IN FOR THE

Jarrod Lyle has it all — a loving wife, a new daughter and a promising career. But, as Aaron FIRST Langmaid reports,

10 once again cancer threatens to take it all away

ARROD Lyle is ready for the fight of his life. A decade after conquering leukemia, J the Aussie golf pro has been forced to confront the devastating disease again. Just days after doctors delivered the terrible news, his beautiful baby daughter DHS 21-APR-2012 PAGE Lusi was born. Now he says he is desperate to beat his illness so he can always be there for

K her. Yesterday he began a second gruelling course of Y chemotherapy.

M This week he spoke for the first time of his joy at C fatherhood, and the challenges he faces. ‘‘I cried when I found out,’’ he says. ‘‘I just didn’t think I could do it all over again. But Lusi has given me a new reason to fight.’’ His first round of chemo was delayed so he could be there for the birth. FB123 Little Lusi Joy has granted him the perspective only a daughter can, making sense, if possible, of tumultuous emotions — happiness at having created confronts every single ‘‘I just didn’t think I could right now,’’ he says. Northern Trust Open life, etched deep cancer patient. do it all over again.’’ Married in December, in Riviera. with the fear of ‘‘This could be the end,’’ He first fought the disease Jarrod and Briony have Lyle is nonchalant about losing it. Lyle admits. ‘‘I don’t want as a 17-year-old when he was been by each other’s side his success, quick to credit While Lyle found to think like that, but on the cusp of a hugely since a chance meeting at a his wife for keeping him himself in one there’s a distinct promising career in the Shepparton petrol station focused. ‘‘Briony hospital, his wife possibility. It’s a fact of sport he loved. It took him almost five years ago. understands what is needed Briony was in life. It’s hard, but that’s almost two years of of me and that comes from another. the nature of the beast.’’ chemotherapy to be given HEY had schooled the life we lead,’’ he says. As he cradled After a recent event in the all clear. together but that ‘‘She has to deal with five-week-old Lusi Mexico, Lyle sought Back then, he says, it was encounter finally packing up every week and yesterday, he saw a treatment for an golf that gave him the will to T ignited a spark. As moving to another state or reminder of human inflamed insect bite. win on and off the course. their relationship country so I can pursue my fragility; of a little He returned to But now he’s not so certain. progressed, Briony jetted dreams. She gave up girl who will need her Victoria last month intent His perspective has had to around the world while Lyle everything for me. dad, and a father on enjoying the precious shift dramatically. positioned himself on golf’s ‘‘She has me figured out desperate to always days ahead with his new ‘‘The first time around golf world stage. and just blows my mind be there. lush greens of the PGA family. But a call from his was the thing that helped He turned professional in every day. So I know I have But Lyle doesn’t kid circuit with the sterile GP changed everything. me through it, but now I 2004, played the British found somebody I will spend himself. He knows the fight, surrounds of a hospital Tests had revealed the have a wife and a daughter Open in ’06, the US Open in the rest of my life with, no though familiar to him, is ward. He’s stared down the beast he’d once beaten was and the game is out of the ’08, and has earned his PGA matter what.’’ one he could lose. cold white walls of the back — acute myeloid equation . . . Tour card every year since. In the past year life had In the space of a few chemotherapy unit and leukemia. ‘‘I cried when I ‘‘Will I keep playing? I This season he had his best been especially good. Lyle’s weeks, he’s swapped the considered the reality that found out,’’ he says. can’t answer that question finish yet, fourth at the game had picked up and he

Tiger returns to Tasmania She’s got brass

TIGER Airways has com- pansion as planned, and price carrier for five weeks CHER has angered town Adelaide Grand Prix. pleted another phase of its Tasmania is an important was ordered by the Civil Avi- hall after the key to the Then lord mayor Steve comeback with the an- milestone on this journey,’’ ation Safety Authority after City of Adelaide she was Condous yesterday said he nouncement of the resump- the airline’s CEO Andrew a Tiger jet made a low ap- given in 1990 was placed was disgusted that it was tion of flights to Tasmania. David said. proach to Avalon airport. on auction website eBay. for sale. After being grounded last ‘‘This is all part of the re- CASA had identified sev- The brass key and Cher’s key had attracted July over safety issues, Tiger building from seven months eral earlier issues. accompanying plaque is just one bid of $US125 late has clawed its way back into ago when the airline was on Since resuming operations one of dozens of items yesterday. A spokeswoman a difficult market to the the ground. There are many in August, the airline has being auctioned by Cher’s for Adelaide City Council point where its fleet and its other destinations keen for been trouble-free, which Mr personal consignor. said the key would be of destinations are expanding. Tiger’s return or com- David said was the result of The key was presented very little value to anyone + ‘‘Tiger Airways is continu- mencement of services.’’ meeting the demands of the Fire sale: Cher. to Cher during the 1990 other than Cher. ing with its Australian ex- The grounding of the cut- travelling public. AAP + heraldsun.com.au Herald Sun, Saturday, April 21, 2012 11 + FOR BREAKING NEWS heraldsun.com.au NEWS FIGHT OF HIS LIFE CHALLENGE FOR KIDS

JARROD Lyle is an ambassador for Challenge, a non- profit charity that provides support for children and families living with cancer. The Challenge Family Centre gives young cancer patients, their parents and siblings access to non- medical support services free. More than 300 children benefit from in-hospital activities like cooking, arts and crafts, bedside games and book reading each week. It also provides access to a broad range of extra- curricular activities including camps, information seminars, respite accommodation, parent retreats and social activities and scholarships. Other high profile patrons include golfer Robert Allenby and Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley. The charity mascot Leuk the Duck was created by Herald Sun cartoonist Mark Knight and plays a vital role in explaining cancer to young people.

Net link: www.challenge.org.au

Family time: Jarrod Lyle enjoys being a dad (main image), shares a happy moment with his wife Briony and Lusi (left) and in action on the golf course (below). Pictures: CRAIG BORROW FB123 C M Y K H 1AR21 PAGE 21-APR-2012 DHS

was adjusting to being a about the bad stuff, the ‘‘But there is no need.’’ from the players and the proud husband with a baby more it gets to you and the It’s the support of friends officials, it’s humbling and on the way. more you get down,’’ he and a huge network of fans you know you are not They had intended to says. ‘‘It is a tough situation that has kept him buoyant. fighting this thing alone,’’ enjoy their time in Victoria that we are in at the Phone calls from high- he says. with Lusi before heading moment but I figure that profile players like Ernie Els But he admits the fight back to the US. can be a lonely one and, But it didn’t go to plan. This could be the end. I don’t want ultimately, his fate will lie ‘‘We’ve had conversations partly in his attitude. on the phone where neither to think like that, but ... it’s a fact He says he is strong — the of us has spoken to each first bout of leukemia made other for a couple of of life JARROD LYLE him even stronger. minutes. There has just He emerged from the 11 been tears,’’ Lyle says. initial health crisis to a ‘‘But that is the kind of ‘the more‘ positive I can be, and Phil Mickelson, dozens burgeoning career and the

connection we have. the better.’’ of emails and just as many girl of his dreams. FIRST ‘‘Briony has been a pillar With any health crisis texts from other players Now it’s back to the of strength.’’ comes perspective, and Lyle have made him realise just future. ‘‘I know what I have Lyle says he has his past says he learned not to worry how much support he has. to do now,’’ he says. ‘‘I’ve experience to draw on. about the small stuff long Players wore badges and been there before. I just He knows what he has to ago. And he knows there are even scrawled Lyle’s initials have to fight my butt off. do and there is no point others doing it worse. on their hats during the That’s all there is to it.’’ dwelling on it. ‘‘I’ve probably got plenty most recent competition. ‘‘The more you worry to complain about,’’ he says. ‘‘To have that support [email protected] Foul play ruled out in muso’s death

FOUL play has been ruled Mark Buttler and Siobhan Duck Be Now? from its Business his humility and his down- out in the death of Men at as Usual album. to-earthness,’’ Stewart said. Work musician Greg Ham. but an autopsy confirmed it Paul Stewart, of the ‘‘He could never quite be- It is suspected Ham died was not suspicious. Painters and Dockers, said lieve that he went from play- of natural causes, but it will Ham was found dead at Ham had still been record- ing pubs in Richmond to be weeks before further his Canning St, Carlton, ing music even though he dominating charts around testing can give investi- home on Thursday. was depressed by the 2010 the world.’’ gators an exact cause of He was part of one of the ruling against him that his Hey Hey It’s Saturday death for the star. world’s biggest bands in the flute riff from Down Under musician and fellow sax- A investigation of the 1980s when en- was taken from the 1934 ophonist Wilbur Wilde said hard-living performer’s joyed massive international nursery rhyme Kookaburra Ham — or Norman, as he death had involved mem- success with songs such as Sits In The Old Gum Tree. was known to his mates — Top of the world: Greg Ham and . bers of the homicide squad Down Under and Who Can It ‘‘I was always struck by would be greatly missed. +