Between them, their surgery would have kept an average operating theatre busy for a few days. Yet Steve Elkington and Bill Glasson have survived to carve out lucrative careers on the USPGA Tour.
Elkington, whose problems have been largely to do with damaged sinuses, passed the $7 million mark in career earnings by winning the Buick Challenge at Callaway Gardens, Georgia last Sunday after a play-off with Fred Funk. Glasson was third.
By collecting $102,000 , Glasson brought his season's earnings to $340,131, which was quite an achievement given his medical history and the fact that the Buick was only his 10th tournament of the season. Indeed, it is staggering to note that he has passed $4.5 million in career earnings.
At the latest count, Glasson has had three elbow operations, four on his sinuses, four on his knees and two for skin cancer. In the midst of all of this, he was on the verge of filing for permanent disability due to lower back problems in 1991.
His last of seven tournament wins was in the Las Vegas Invitational which he will be defending at Desert Inn later this month. Meanwhile, despite having an orthopaedic support on his left elbow, his current well-being was impressive during four sub-70 rounds in the Buick Challenge.
He lost out by a stroke on a place in the play-off. Almost inevitably his chance of victory was squandered on the greens, where he has always been suspect. On this occasion, it was a three-putt on the short 16th which pushed him out of a share of the lead at a crucial stage.
His earning capacity would certainly be the envy of Richard Coughlan who has reached a critical stage in his attempt to retain playing privileges on the regular tour for next season. After missing the cut at Callaway Gardens in his 28th tournament of the season, Coughlan is in 160th position in the money list with $140,375 .
A place among the top-125 who will retain their cards for next season currently requires a minimum of $207,000. So, Coughlan would need to make at least $70,000 from the remaining three events - he will not get into the end-of-season Tour Championship - to ensure survival.
Sandy Lyle, currently 140th in the money list, is also in trouble. After playing 20 events this year in the US where he is committed to continuing his tournament career, the Anglo-Scot is about to lose the 10-year exemption he gained for winning the Masters in 1988.
Meanwhile, the US Golf Association have held an open forum regarding its proposed test protocol for spring-like effect (the so-called trampoline effect). "It featured some thoughtful presentations and useful input for our executive committee to review and analyse before it reached a final decision," said USGA president Buzz Taylor.
Over the past year, the USGA had become concerned about the characteristics of clubs composed of high-tech metals such as titanium. Golf's governing body in the US and Mexico wish to establish the standard for conformance to the Rules of Golf at a point where nearly all clubs currently in use and previously approved by the USGA, would continue to conform.
Golfers from 18 countries will converge on three Irish golf courses, Portmarnock, Royal Dublin and Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Links, from tomorrow for the sixth Jameson International Golf Challenge. Over 22,000 participated in local qualifying tournaments to make the finals and compete for the Jameson Global Trophy. The tournament lasts three days and has attracted golfers from as far afield as Argentina and New Zealand.
