Ben Henkel to debut in Vic Open after recovering from fracture neck
After suffering a life-changing neck injury, golfer Ben Henkel did not know if he was ever going to play the game he loved again.
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AFTER suffering a life-changing neck injury, golfer Ben Henkel did not know if he was ever going to play the game he loved again.
The 22 year old professional hopeful suffered a fractured vertebrae in a car accident in 2019 and missed 12 months of golf as he recovered from the injury.
Henkel said he contemplated an early retirement after losing the passion he once held for the game.
“I was out for pretty much a year with a neck brace on and the rehab, and I’m slowly getting back to it now and getting fighting fit,” he said.
“It’s good to be out of the brace and playing golf and finding the passion for it again, it got a bit hard there working out how to get back into golf.
“You go from doing 100 per cent to doing nothing at all, so that was a challenge.”
Henkel will make his professional tournament debut on his home course this weekend, with the rising star participating in the Vic Open at 13th Beach.
The Geelong local said playing at a familiar course would likely help him in his quest for a strong performance.
“Being at a course I’m a member at makes it a bit less nerve-racking, but at the same time that’s what it’s all about, the challenge, feeling that pressure for playing with good meaning to it,” he said.
“It’s better than just knocking around a club competition around here, it’s got some meaning, it feels really good.
“I was playing some good golf out of Covid, everyone struggled a bit with events so it was good to play some coming back in and being able to practice and play between here and Barwon Heads.
“Being a local definitely helps this week, I get to sleep in my own bed and stay at home and travel 10 minutes to the course.
“You know how the greens roll, how it reacts.”
Originally published as Ben Henkel to debut in Vic Open after recovering from fracture neck
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