Watching Issa Nlareb’s swing, you’d never know he didn’t take a golf lesson until five years after turning professional. For 13 years, observing others and reading two-time major champion Greg Norman’s book were the closest things the Cameroonian had to formal instruction.
Nlareb was just 11 years old when his mom died. Living on the streets near a golf course, he began collecting balls to earn money to survive, eventually picking up the game himself and becoming a caddie. However, his life dramatically changed in 2018 when he contracted bacterial meningitis while at a tournament in Egypt. The golfer developed sepsis, fell into a coma and required the amputation of both legs and most of his fingers. He wasn’t sure he’d ever play the sport again.
Last week, Nlareb played in his second U.S. Adaptive Open and repeated as champion in the multiple limb amputee category. READ MORE
As tennis’ best competed at Wimbledon last week, retired court legend Rafael Nadal scored a golf milestone – a hole-in-one. The 22-time major winner posted photos on social media in the wake of his feat, which came on the par-3 14th hole at Alcanada Golf Club on the Spanish island of Mallorca, according to an ATP Tour report. Nadal’s ace came less than two weeks after the PGA Tour posted a video analyzing his somewhat unorthodox swing. READ MORE
Longtime PGA Tour Champions caddie Derek Sanders was inside the ropes in a different capacity last week. Sanders, a golf professional who has looped for John Huston, Brad Faxon, and David Toms among others, received an invitation from tournament director John Karedes to play in the senior circuit’s Dick’s Open at En-Joie Golf Club in Endicott, New York. On his bag? None other than legendary looper Mike “Fluff” Cowan. READ MORE
Tap-Ins
First Tee and PGA Tour Champions announced the 80 teenage golfers selected to compete in the 2025 Pure Insurance Championship. The Sept. 19-21 tournament will pair the youngsters with PGA Tour Champions pros at Pebble Beach and Spyglass Hill. READ MORE
Riley Grimm, Kameron Kohutek and Olivia Barnes won titles at the second annual LPGA*USGA Girls Golf Championship at Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club in Southern Pines, North Carolina, last week. READ MORE
An Iowa man was arrested and faces five charges – including four felonies – in relation to improvised bombs found at Waveland Golf Course, according to a news release from the Des Moines Police Department. One pipe bomb-style improvised explosive device was detonated on July 3, while a second, undetonated device was found on July 10, prompting the course’s temporary closure. READ MORE
Compiled by Mike Cullity