While Trying to Triumph, PGA Tour Pro Instills Confidence Into A Close Fan Suffering From a Serious Disease

Joel Dahmen has had his struggles with cancer. The 35-year-old golfer, after the many crests and troughs of his life, continued to harness through and play the best golf.

Recently, while playing at the ZOZO Championship, the golfer was spotted encouraging a cancer patient, who was inspired by his journey, by giving her a signed hat. 

Joel Dahmen inspires a cancer patient 

Joel Dahmen got his PGA Tour card in 2018 after turning professional in 2010. The golfer played in the Korn Ferry Tour and a year later got diagnosed with testicular cancer. Dahmen is familiar with the struggles of cancer, as his brother was diagnosed just two years back and he lost his mother to pancreatic cancer.

The Arizonian was 23 when he went through chemotherapy and beat the cancer in one month. Now, he makes sure to show his support whenever he can. This time he did so by giving the cancer patient and his doctor a signed cap, saying “Keep fighting.”

This Wednesday before the ZOZO Championship, Dahmen met with Natsuko, a cancer patient. While giving away the hats, he expressed how she has ‘inspired’ him and said, “I went through it. My family went through it. So, It’s very cool to see you out here and beating cancer’s butt.” 

It seems it was not the first time that the golfer had offered her a hat. The lady shared that she wears his hat every time she goes to the chemo. The journey of surviving cancer is truly hard, but it is commendable that Dahman has beaten it and come out stronger. 

Joel Dahman’s lifelong struggles via Netflix docuseries

Dahmen was featured in Netflix’s docuseries ‘Full Swing’, which explored his whole life. Starting as when he was a high schooler, he lost his mother to pancreatic cancer. He narrates that after she left, he “was like a rudderless ship in the ocean.“ Later, he got the diagnosis and survived the disease. He then decided that he was going to try his best. 

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In 2013, after trying his best and meeting his wife, Joel had only $15 in savings. His wife, Lona Skutt, supported him throughout his fall, and finally, in 2016, he got his PGA Tour ticket. It seemed the troubles had passed, but his cancer left long-term health effects.

Dahmen always wanted to be a father, but cancer’s effect prevented him from it. After repeating IVF needles, fortunately, before his first PGA Tour game, he got another good news and cried ‘happy tears’.

Life has been pretty ruthless to Joel, but as he sailed through the various waves, he learned to master them. With his 1x PGA win, he now pushes further to bag more victories and give his family a better future. 

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