Gotta-Grip Golf Blog

The world may have seen a glimpse of the next Tiger Woods; and that “glimpse” might just be spelled… K y l e L o g r a s s o. But he does not expect that comparison, nor does his family need that comparison. They are just glad he is Kyle.

Even if you do not play golf, and let’s also assume you don’t have children, his story is one you should know.

I was introduced to the story of Kyle Lograsso in an e-mail by a friend, which simply said in the subject line, “You gotta see this”. I do not know about you, but I get many e-mails that make similar demands, but this one “was all that, and much more!”

I clicked on the YouTube link, and a story of a young golf prodigy, reminiscent of the 1978 appearance of Tiger Woods on television at age two, began playing.

However, this story soon became much more than about talent. It started with his golf skills at age four, and then re-wound to his early life struggles with a deadly condition.

Kyle Lograsso was born in 2002 to a US Marine and his wife, who luckily saw something in one of his eyes that triggered a question to their doctor upon his two-year checkup.

At age two, Kyle was diagnosed with Retinoblastoma, a rare form of cancer of the eye that affects about 250 children (usually before age five), in the US each year. Therefore, you could say that this diagnosis put Kyle (in 2002) in the category of about one-in-a-million.

While recovering from the operation that saved his young life, and with his family, led by his military father, stationed overseas, Kyle was forced to stay out of direct sun-light to heal, so one of his favorite things (at age two), was watching the Golf Channel.

Through one eye, he was instantly hooked on watching golf. This, and this alone, is what they attribute his developing his own skills for the game. At age four he was already shooting in the 40’s for nine holes.

We take great pride in the US, and the around the world, in lifting our sports heroes up on pedestals. By the time an athlete is in college, if they show real promise, they are showered with offers from professional sports teams that just about seal their fate with a guarantee of living happily ever after, and retiring wealthy.

There are rare occasions that we get a chance to see greatness before all the trapping’s of money, fame, endorsements, and the glamour, take hold, and “cloud the view” into the spirit of our heroes.

Golf is also typically a sport in which there are numerous exceptions to the “jading of the stars” rule, because the game of golf itself, The PGA, and the companies that support the game do so much to help people stricken with illness by donating to worthy charities.

Instead of a story where a talented young kid grows up to be a rich and famous golfer who gives back, Kyle Lograsso almost lost his life before age 3 and now at age 6, he is already giving back through the organization they formed to raise awareness and money for helping others.

The rest of his story, with links to the charity his family started, and current progress of this remarkable young man can be found at his web site http://www.kylelograsso.org.

I am old enough to have seen the Mike Douglas show live back in the late 70’s when Tiger Woods thrilled the studio audience, as well as the host, and guest, Bob Hope, with his golf skills (at age 2).

Kyle Lograsso may be the next Tiger Woods of golf, and when it comes to taking it to the next level; he is one-in-a-million.

Go Kyle Go!!!