The most inspirational Australian touring professional right now isn’t the one winning Majors or landing the biggest cheques. It’s the one who’s doggedly surviving
In 1983, on Glenn Joyner’s 19th birthday, he arrived in the USA to play college golf. He is now 58 years old, and the golf journey continues. Joyner has won 153 tournaments and pro-ams throughout his career; he played the Asian Tour for 20 years and is a winner on the PGA Tour of Australasia. For five years he taught at Yarra Yarra Golf Club in Melbourne, and since 2014, he’s played on the senior circuits overseas and in Australia. Joyner possesses a similar inner strength found in many professional athletes; a drive to fight that is profound. However, his recent diagnosis of stage 4 bowel cancer will be his biggest and most courageous fight yet, but so far he is winning this almighty battle.
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In the past few years, I have played some of the best golf of my life and had some excellent results. I won eight times [in 2022], including at Pebble Beach and the Senior Open qualifying by three shots with a 65.
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At the Senior Open I began feeling exceptionally tired. It just seemed like I was getting older. Having woken up very tired on the Tuesday morning, I assumed it was jetlag and took it easy that day. My strategy for the tournament was formulated, so I thought it best to rest on Wednesday. After playing well in the first round, I went home and slept for four hours. After dinner, I slept an additional 11 hours. I noticed I was struggling walking the hills, gasping for air. It was clear that something was wrong. Despite my mind’s willingness, my body refused. In the end, I missed the cut and rested up over the weekend.
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For the next two months, I planned to visit Canada and USA to play the Champions Tour qualifiers, but I hit a wall. I played one qualifier in Calgary and missed by a shot. Having a moment to think about my health proved to be a blessing. I went to the hospital after being encouraged by close friend and travel mate, Guy Wall. I had a haemoglobin level of 70 (normal is 140). A further flight would likely have resulted in a heart attack, according to the doctor. At the hospital in Canada, I received unbelievable care, but was advised to either stay and seek help or go home right away for testing. To fly home, I needed an urgent blood transfusion and oxygen tanks. America was now out of the question. Upon returning home, my doctor diagnosed me with stage 4 bowel cancer that had spread to my abdomen. My prognosis was 12 months.
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The added complexity to the diagnosis is that there were mutated cells and mutation doesn’t respond to chemotherapy. Surgery and chemotherapy were prescribed as treatment. In addition to removing a tumour, part of my bowel was removed as well. There was a great deal of spread of the cancer. I spoke with my sister’s best friend, Peter MacCallum from the Cancer Centre who is a surgeon in Melbourne. My sister told me I just needed a 1 percent chance. She told me I’ve been in the 1-percent category my whole life, and all I need to do is believe I can be in that 1 percent once again in this battle. My rally began at that point.
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In my life, I’ve met a lot of people.
I have established extensive contacts and networks through golf and travel. The majority of golfers keep their teams pretty small. For me, those people are the ones on which you can depend. It’s common for people to take more than they give. My wife Carolyn is just the opposite – she is the most giving person I know. It breaks my heart to think of leaving her on her own. She’s my rock and is just the most beautiful soul. Since meeting my wife, I have grown in my life and outlook. As individuals, we are successful, but as a team, we are even stronger. As a team, we have grown tremendously, and we will continue to fight this together.
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In golf, you have a choice on each shot: fear or freedom. Swinging with freedom is what works. Beating cancer is no different. That’s the kind of freedom I’m going to live with for the remaining time I have. That’s a conscious decision I’m making, not to be consumed with the fear as there are still plenty of things I want to accomplish.
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The late Lyndsay Stephen was someone I looked up to and loved being around. We spoke on the phone regularly as he struggled with his health. As it turned out, he would end up mentoring me, even in his most harrowing of times. The last time we spoke, he was upbeat and I was looking at jobs. He said, “‘Joyns’, what are you doing, mate?! You don’t want to be working. Just play golf while you can!” He said to me, “I wish I could play one more round of golf…” There is a lot in that message. That message was his gift to me. That’s what I’m going to do. My motto used to be, “Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing!” With my cancer battle, this motto is true but when it comes to golf, it’s not. Every day I get to play now is a win for me. I’m doing things on my terms.
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It is quite overwhelming how my Legends Tour family has supported me through this time. Does it surprise me? Absolutely not. If you’re still playing this game competitively at our age, you have a special outlook on life. As you age, you’re not getting any better. In tournament golf, it might not be your turn today – one of your mates is going well – and that’s great. We all support each other. No one really remembers who won – we all remember the dinners, the shared times, the conversations, the stories and the laughs together. Guy Wall has called me every day just to check in. Special friendships have been made over my life as a golfer, but some of the most cherished ones have been since turning 50. Everyone is encouraging and supportive. I have no words to describe their altruism. I suppose to use the word ‘family’ is a strong bond for everyone. Our ‘Legends family’ is an accurate description and the greatest compliment. And geez, these guys can still play!
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I’ve been training for this battle my whole life. I’ve spent 90 percent of my life being disappointed with results playing golf. I’ve travelled all over the world, dealt with changing time zones, differing conditions, adapting to all sorts of playing conditions. You have to be resilient; programmed to not dwell, and instead reset and go forward. Executing a plan is what we do as golfers and that’s the way I’m approaching my cancer battle. I’ve spent zero energy on, Why me? Don’t get me wrong, the prognosis does scare me, but that’s OK. I’ve been scared before. I’ll just keep positive outcomes in my mind.
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The doctor told me fighting stage 4 cancer was kind of like fighting a bushfire with a garden hose. I told him straight, “You don’t know me. I’m going to be that guy that you tell your patients about. I’m fitter and mentally stronger than most – why would I be one of your percentages?” He didn’t know how to handle the fire in me.
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After the surgery I was in trouble for a few days. In my mind I kept saying to myself, I’m playing golf in one month. I booked to play with my dad and two great friends, and we played at Headland Golf Club. I went on to play the New South Wales Senior Open six weeks after major surgery and came 12th, followed by the Senior PGA Championship and finished 14th. Not only was I playing, but I was also playing well! I played 10 days in a row and my doctor was in disbelief. I’m the sort of person that when you tell me I can’t do something, I become even more determined.
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I will be continuing to play competitive golf. It will be one week on, one week off with my chemo treatments. It is a rollercoaster, as the chemo depletes you, then the body recovers, then the chemo hits you again. That’s the challenge to find that window to play.
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I have a greater appreciation for my life, for what I’ve been able to do. The remarkable people I’ve met, the amazing places I’ve been, the relationships built – it’s therapeutic to reflect on my journey. I certainly tell my wife more stories these days. I’ve had a great life – probably more downs than ups, but it’s been an incredible journey. I can’t be any prouder of my twin boys – Marcus and Brad, who are 32. They have just been incredible through this whole cancer journey. It is cool to know that when I’m not here they are fully equipped for anything life brings them.
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Today is most important. Carolyn helps in this process whenever it starts getting difficult. She says, “Let’s just do today.” I have trained myself to live by this philosophy. As a golfer I plan a schedule, book everything, enjoy today and enjoy that journey. I still need goals and a schedule to look forward to. I have my chemo dates and fit tournaments in between recovery. I plan on heading to Pebble Beach in June and the Senior Open in July.
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TNT. “Today, not tomorrow.” If you have things you want to do, don’t hesitate.
