The Loop
How saving a few pars wound up saving Jason Bohn's life
Just seven weeks after suffering a heart attack during the Honda Classic, Jason Bohn is returning to the PGA Tour at this week's RBC Heritage. And he's marking his golf balls for the occasion in fantastic -- and appropriate -- fashion. Check it out:
Bohn is all smiles now, but what happened to him in February was no laughing matter. After making the cut on the number, the two-time PGA Tour winner left PGA National on a stretcher and was taken to the hospital. Originally believed to be a mild heart attack, it turned out he had a 99-percent blockage in a main artery that's commonly called "the widowmaker."
"[The doctors] told me that I was extremely lucky, that had I gone down on the golf course, like had I passed out, they didn't believe that I had enough time for anyone to get to me and relieve the blockage, and I probably wouldn't have made it," Bohn told PGATour.com.
And he probably wouldn't have "made it" had he not made the cut on the number. Bohn can thank four closing pars in his second round, including three on the vaunted Bear Trap, holes 15-17.
"Had I missed [the cut], there is absolutely no question in my mind that I would have never sought medical attention," said Bohn, who began hitting golf balls again less than two weeks ago. "I would have just gone in my room, showered, packed my bags and tried to catch the next flight home."
Add it all up, and you have one happy golfer teeing it up at Harbour Town this week.
"Everybody says you should play every event to win, and I do believe that, but in my scenario, my first event back, regardless, I'll be smiling the whole time, whether I'm winning or whether I'm losing or whether I'm missing the cut," Bohn said.
Bohn tees off of No. 10 on Thursday at 8:20 a.m. with Jamie Lovemark and Chad Campbell. And we don't anticipate there being any problem identifying his golf ball from those of his playing partners.