Two-time PGA Tour winner reveals Parkinson’s diagnosis

A two-time PGA Tour winner has revealed he’s battling Parkinson’s.

John Senden told ABC Sport during this past week’s Australian PGA that he was diagnosed with the disease, which affects the nervous system and parts of the body controlled by the nerves, about 18 months ago. But the 52-year-old Senden, who missed the cut Friday at Royal Queensland in Brisbane, said he desires to keep competing.

“I’ve got to stay in the gym, stay fit and stay open, because Parkinson’s wants to close you down, wants to make you feel a bit more depressed,” Senden said. “I’ve got to stay playing, stay light-hearted about everything. It doesn’t actually undermine my strength, it just sort of makes me feel a bit weird sometimes.”

Senden won two PGA Tour titles in 481 career starts, the 2006 John Deere Classic and 2014 Valspar Championship, and earned over $21 million in prize money. He also captured the 2007 Australian Open.

Senden’s last PGA Tour start came at the 2022 John Deere, and this year he teed it up in 15 events on PGA Tour Champions, notching one top-25 finish.

“I can be on the range warming up and feeling really good, but as soon as the anticipation of hitting the first shot or a difficult shot or even the name called on the first tee, all of a sudden my right arm starts shaking and I can’t control that sometimes,” Senden added. “I sort of stretch it or trigger it or get some bigger movements to get through this. It’s not going to go away, but I’m still able to play and still enjoying golf.”

Senden’s Parkinson’s battle isn’t the first health scare in the Senden family. Senden’s 19-year-old son Jacob was diagnosed with brain cancer six years ago; John Senden took time away from the Tour to support his son.

This past week, Jacob Senden caddied for his dad.

“There was some time back then when we didn’t know whether he was going to make it,” Senden said recently. “Being together this week has definitely been an inspiration for me especially, and for other kids out there watching him grow over the last six years. He’s got stronger and stronger every year with great doctors and great medical in the U.S. and also another couple of doctors out here in Australia. He’s been looking good and feeling like he needs to take it by the horns now and go and live his life.”