Want to recieve exclusive news, videos, tournament highlights, golf important tips and more ?
Want to recieve exclusive news, videos, tournament highlights, golf important tips and more ?
We have so many memories of Jarrod that it is hard to narrow it down.
To celebrate what would have been Jarrod Lyle’s 40th birthday, Challenge and the PGA have asked Jarrod’s family, friends, colleagues, and the infinite people he influenced, to share their favourite stories of the affable Tour Professional.
Ellie Fitzpatrick
We have so many memories of Jarrod that it is hard to narrow it down.
For myself growing up, it was always so special when we got to Christmas time. Jarrod would make sure he was home for Christmas every year.
He always put in the extra effort for us when we were kids and we felt so special because he would pick us up from school.
We would often spend the day (or week) leading up to his arrival telling everyone who would listen that our “big cousin Jarrod” was coming home and that he was coming to pick us up from school.
What made it even better was that he never waited in the car, so we could point out our “big cousin Jarrod” and run like the wind to meet him.
Fraser Fitzpatrick
I have many a memory of Jarrod, from the Christmases to the constant teasing about being shorter than him.
Although that didn’t last very long – I caught up to him faster than anyone could have predicted!
One of the most vivid memories I have is about Jarrod and fairy bread. Always the fairy bread.
He used to eat it any chance he got. I think it’s thanks to him that I loved it so much when I was younger.
Jarrod was one of very few genuine and decent people in my life growing up, something I didn’t realise till much later on.
After everything, Jarrod made my life that little bit happier.
He’ll always be my big cousin.
To find out more about Jarrod’s ongoing legacy as part of Challenge – supporting kids with cancer, head to challenge.org.au/jarrods-gift/
Ellie and Fraser Fitzpatrick are cousins of Jarrod Lyle.
Memories can be funny things. Over time they can fade, distort or even completely disappear.
To celebrate what would have been Jarrod Lyle’s 40th birthday, Challenge and the PGA have asked Jarrod’s family, friends, colleagues, and the infinite people he influenced, to share their favourite stories of the affable Tour Professional.
Memories can be funny things. Over time they can fade, distort or even completely disappear.
Meeting Jarrod Lyle for the first time, that’s a memory I will never forget. The big fella in full flow, the definition of unforgettable.
I take you back to the Moonah Classic of 2010. Jarrod was having a good tournament, he was in the mix. As an on-course reporter for Channel Ten, it was my job to speak to the golfers post round.
Such interviews are usually very staid affairs. Pro golfers are typically pretty straight after their round. They can shoot a 62 and barely crack a smile. Shoot a 76, it can be a monosyllabic insight into five hours of torture.
The big boy, it would be fair to say, wasn’t your typical golfer in this respect. After being close to the lead mid round on Saturday, he struggled over the closing stages.
Having never met Jarrod, I wasn’t sure what I was going to get when he was ushered my way for a post round chat. Would he refuse to do it like some? Would he be philosophical? Positive? Negative?
In this situation you normally get 30 secs to say g’day, introduce yourself and then go live with the interview.
“Gday Jarrod, Mark Howard mate. Thanks for giving me some of your time.”
And this is why I will never forget my first memory of Jarrod Lyle. Big broad smile, drink in hand, sweat pouring off him. A big meaty handshake delivered.
“Gday knackers. Geez I f***ed that up near the end didn’t I. Bloody hell!” Then a laugh so boisterous, it turned heads on a green 30 metres away. Another thunderous laugh. More heads turned.
I knew from that first meeting that Jarrod Lyle was my type of golfer. My type of man.
There are very few athletes that if you didn’t know how they performed on the day and you are about to interview them, that you can’t pick their performance by their body language or demeanour.
Craig Lowndes was one. First or last. You wouldn’t know. Jarrod Lyle was another.
Getting to know Jarrod from that point, I was always struck by the same thought when I was around him. This bloke should be playing footy in front of 80,000 at the MCG, or walking into a ring with music blaring ready to fight for a world title. Golf? From where I sat, it couldn’t contain the big fella. He was too raw and full of life for it.
Polite golf claps? Jarrod Lyle was more your roaring-from-the-top-of-his-lungs style of operator.
A wave to the crowd on 18? How about a big, sweaty, bloody bear hug.
A gin and tonic post round? Six beers thanks.
A BMW slowly leaving the course? A Holden V8, doing patchy’s out the front gate. That was J.
Golf needs more blokes like Jarrod Lyle. Life needs more blokes like Jarrod Lyle. But there will only ever be one Jarrod Lyle.
He was, quite simply, unforgettable.
To find out more about Jarrod’s ongoing legacy as part of Challenge – supporting kids with cancer, head to challenge.org.au/jarrods-gift/
Mark Howard is a distinguished sports commentator on TV and radio, and is host of the popular Howie Games podcast.
I’m not going to lie. The first time I sat down to write something about Jarrod Lyle to commemorate the great man on what would have been his 40th birthday, a few raw expletives spilled onto the page.
To celebrate what would have been Jarrod Lyle’s 40th birthday, Challenge and the PGA have asked Jarrod’s family, friends, colleagues, and the infinite people he influenced, to share their favourite stories of the affable Tour Professional.
I’m not going to lie.
The first time I sat down to write something about Jarrod Lyle to commemorate the great man on what would have been his 40th birthday, a few raw expletives spilled onto the page.
It was written from a place of love. And those who were close with Jarrod and understand the traditional ways of Australian male bonding would likely understand why I would speak that way.
But one incredible woman I know – one of the strongest anyone could ever encounter – indirectly reminded me that I have a very important job to do. It’s a job not mine alone – but one for all of us who knew Jarrod. A job not directly asked of us, but one it is my absolute duty, and pleasure, to uphold.
It is our job to make sure his two beautiful daughters get a full and accurate picture of their father. And Jarrod might have been an Aussie larrikin – but it wasn’t all he was. He might have said a few choice words with me and others at times – but he never wasted his words. They ALL had meaning.
If he was around today, I’m sure I would have tried to come up with a clever way to wish him happy birthday. Some attempt at cutting personal humour I’d have spent hours cooking up. But upon delivery he would’ve volleyed it right back with something much better, completely off the cuff.
And now that I think about it – I could have used Jarrod’s wise words a few months back on my own 40th.
I can see it now. I was in quarantine in a London airport hotel prior to the Open Championship and put out a social media post bemoaning that fact a little. Jarrod would not have let that slide without (rightfully) absolutely smashing me.
You see it’s been a rough couple years for most of us amongst this awful pandemic. And we are in a legitimate fight against it both physically and mentally. But Jarrod would always have a way of putting things into perspective.
He’d have reminded me it could have been much worse. And complaining about it wasn’t going to solve anything. He’d have said put your gloves on and fight. Find the positive side of the situation under all circumstances and tell the negative to get stuffed.
And he’d have been right.
Sitting in a hotel room for five days doesn’t even minutely compare to what that man went through in just one minute of his life post his first diagnosis with cancer as a teenager. My head needed to be pulled out of my backside. I could’ve used Jarrod to help with that.
Truth is I miss being put in my place by my mate. I miss it because no one could say blunter things yet clearly do so from a place of love and friendship. He could make you laugh so hard you’d cry, and later when you got the true meaning behind his words, you’d be hard-pressed not crying again for a more emotional reason. I miss having him tell it like it is.
But there was so much more to him than candid words. Jarrod was the one who should have needed others. He was the one who battled and beat cancer three times. Yet he was the one always putting others needs ahead of his own.
I was covering Australian golfers on the PGA TOUR as a journalist when I found out about Jarrod’s second bout with leukemia from another source just days before his first daughter was due. I had to make a call to get confirmation. He picked up, at 7am, and apologised for not telling me sooner.
HE APOLOGISED TO ME.
Ridiculous. I didn’t care who had the story first. I didn’t want the story to even exist. But here he was, worried about me.
He apologised to me again during another interview at the Australian Open years later after he was fronting up for his third fight. This time it was because Lusi ran over and wanted a hug and to play.
Seriously. I’ve never wrapped up a chat quicker. Who was I to take even a second away from his time with his three beautiful girls?
There are plenty of golf highlights I could point to when it comes to my time knowing Jarrod. His ace at the Waste Management Phoenix Open was certainly awesome. His success at Q-School in Palm Springs was another cool week for me as was his T4 at Riviera right before he was diagnosed the second time. But I remember, and miss, the other moments more.
I miss watching him change a nappy (diaper) next to a putting green.
I miss the chats we had before and after the tape recorder went on or off.
I miss the public roastings at PGA TOUR practice areas that hammered me but also helped me become accepted by the other Aussie players at the same time. Often after those moments came the dinner invites that showed he didn’t perceive any professional barrier between us.
I miss watching him knock people down a peg or two if they lost sight of their kindness.
I miss seeing the countless smiles he brought to kids with cancer as they faced unthinkable battles. Battles he proved to them all could sometimes be beaten.
But most of all I miss the trust he had in me. He would call a spade a shovel and a flog a flog without a second thought of what I could do with his words in my profession. I would try to soften things on occasion but on others he insisted I tell it like he did, even if I had reservations.
On what would have been his 40th birthday, I feel heavy-hearted knowing he should have been here for this and so many more celebrations. But if I force myself to look for the positives, as Jarrod insisted many times over, the truth is the number is irrelevant now.
Because in my mind – Jarrod is immortal. His legacy lives on.
He’s in Lusi and Jemma. He’s in Briony. He’s in all of us who knew him and now he’s in thousands of people who never had that pleasure but who have been inspired by his life. We must continue to give him life in the generations to come.
The world needs more of us to be like Jarrod. To find the fun and the positives amongst the invariable struggles of life. And to let those who choose negativity know there’s a better way.
Happy Birthday old mate. We miss you.
To find out more about Jarrod’s ongoing legacy as part of Challenge – supporting kids with cancer, head to challenge.org.au/jarrods-gift/
Ben Everill is a golf writer at PGATOUR.com
To celebrate what would have been Jarrod Lyle’s 40th birthday, Challenge and the PGA have asked Jarrod’s family, friends, colleagues, and the infinite people he influenced, to share their favourite stories of the affable Tour Professional.
To celebrate what would have been Jarrod Lyle’s 40th birthday, Challenge and the PGA have asked Jarrod’s family, friends, colleagues, and the infinite people he influenced, to share their favourite stories of the affable Tour Professional.
I remember when Daddy was in the house in Torquay to see me and Jemma one last time before he died.
Once I went around with all our nail polish and I asked Daddy if I could paint his nails. Fortunately, he said yes.
I asked which colours he wanted but he didn’t know because he couldn’t see what colours there were. So I did all the colours.
By the time I’d finished I realised how bad I did it, but I didn’t care because it was my first time painting someone’s nails so I was pretty proud of myself and he couldn’t see them so that also made me feel better.
I will never forget that day.
I remember that Daddy used to call me boof-head, munchie, and donkey. I don’t know why he called me those nicknames but I do remember he always had weird nicknames for everyone.
I miss having a boy in the house, having someone close by who was a natural clown, and having someone that doesn’t yell at me as much as mum.
I think of him and miss him every day.
To find out more about Jarrod’s ongoing legacy as part of Challenge – supporting kids with cancer, head to challenge.org.au/jarrods-gift/
Lusi Lyle is the daughter of Jarrod.
Last week saw the end of the troubled Tokyo Olympics and many new champions and heroes were born.
To celebrate what would have been Jarrod Lyle’s 40th birthday, Challenge and the PGA have asked Jarrod’s family, friends, colleagues, and the infinite people he influenced, to share their favourite stories of the affable Tour Professional.
Last week saw the end of the troubled Tokyo Olympics and many new champions and heroes were born.
Coincidently it coincided with the third anniversary of the death of one of my true champions and heroes.
Jarrod Lyle would have been 40 this week had his life not been tragically ended by a prolonged bout of acute myeloid leukaemia, a form of blood cancer.
He was only 17 years old when he was first diagnosed and his fight for life began.
After nine months at the Royal Children’s Hospital, he was in remission and able to return to the game he loved – golf.
After a successful amateur career, Jarrod turned professional in 2004 and that was the beginning of a friendship I treasure to this day.
In my role as Director of Tournaments for the Australasian Tour and having worked for the Tour prior to that, I have seen more than 2000 aspiring young golfers come and go.
Most I hardly remember … but Jarrod was different. He was a big man in every way.
His body shape was big, his smile was big, and his personality matched the rest of him – but his entrance to professional golf was also spectacular.
It was the Heineken Classic of 2005 when I first became aware of Jarrod.
From seemingly nowhere, this fresh-faced kid was at the top of the leaderboard.
I remember saying to Russell Swanson, former professional and now co-worker on the Tour, “Who the hell is Jarrod Lyle?”.
Keep in mind the Heineken was co-sponsored with the European Tour at the time and many of the world’s household names were in the field – Els, Stenson, Immelman and Montgomerie, as well as all of our Australian stars.
It didn’t take me long to find out and introduce myself. After rounds of 68, 66 and 66 on the famous Composite Course at Royal Melbourne, everyone was asking the same question.
In the end, a bogey on the 18th hole in the final round cost the big fella a place in the playoff with Craig Parry and Nick O’Hern – but Jarrod had arrived and our friendship was born.
We all know his career from that point on. Success in Asia, two wins on the Korn Ferry Tour and several good years on the PGA Tour, but it was the man not the golfer that made Jarrod the loved person he was.
In 2012 Jarrod was cruelly struck down with a second bout of leukaemia and during his time in hospital I rang him on several occasions.
Never once did he want to talk about himself, although he never avoided a direct question and faced his dilemma with courage I have rarely seen elsewhere.
He was more interested in how my life was going, what was happening on Tour, etc.
Those months of being isolated from the world for fear of infection must have been hell for both him, Briony and little Lusi at the time.
I laugh when I think about how difficult Covid is making our lives now and remember what Jarrod must have been going through.
Finally in the November of 2013, he felt well enough to try to play again. It was the Australian Masters, once again at Royal Melbourne.
I sat down with him and did something I have rarely done before or since – I asked him who he would like to play with.
He chose Geoff Ogilvy and a friend of his from Zimbabwe who had played on the PGA and Korn Ferry Tours, Brendon de Jonge.
I remember Adam Scott winning, but the real story was the comeback of the kid from Shepparton.
The emotion of that day was something I will never forget. The tee was surrounded, 10 deep with people all wanting Jarrod to do well.
For whatever reason, Jarrod’s story had captured the hearts of not only the Australian golfing public, but the country at large.
It was the lead story on all the news outlets.
As his turn to play arrived, I secured a spot on the rope line 50 metres down the fairway.
I looked at the man to my left and the woman to my right, both with tears streaming down their faces. That in turn started me.
Now I was lucky enough to be at St. Andrews when Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus played their last Opens.
I was also at Augusta when they played their last Masters. On both occasions, emotions ran very high with plenty of tears shed.
But that day at Royal Melbourne was the only time I’ve shed a tear at an Australian event.
What made it worse was, as Jarrod walked off the tee, he saw me. He walked over and said one word, “Gotcha”.
He didn’t win, but no one expected him to. He made the cut on guts alone which surprised no one.
I have never seen the Australian public react to someone making the cut like they did for Jarrod Lyle that day.
What are my fondest memories of Jarrod Lyle?
Jarrod would have been 40 this week. He and his family were robbed of that.
The work that he and Briony have done for children with cancer will, however, never be forgotten.
Leuk the Duck is synonymous with the Lyle family and the millions of dollars raised in that name has assisted thousands of cancer sufferers and their families.
His name will live forever.
To find out more about Jarrod’s ongoing legacy as part of Challenge – supporting kids with cancer, head to challenge.org.au/jarrods-gift/
Andrew Langford-Jones is the former Tournaments Director at the PGA Tour of Australasia.
