PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – Not just anyone gets to sit inside the ropes at TPC Sawgrass during Players Championship week. You have to be special like Cayden Ingram.
“It’s pretty cool to be out here,” Ingram said. “A lot of people don’t get to do this so it’s pretty cool to see the players up close and get to meet some of them too.”
Cayden is a Tom Coughlin Jay Fund patient. The Players coordinated this opportunity to give Cayden and his family the chance to meet golfers as they were practicing Wednesday on the iconic island green.
“It’s wonderful, wouldn’t trade it for the world,” Cayden’s grandfather David Theurich said. “In terms of being with all the golfers and the nice people, just an opportunity to be with this brave young man.”
Just before turning 12 years old, Cayden was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He was in remission, but then relapsed last January. Cayden continues cancer treatment at Nemours Children’s Health. His love for golf is what brings him so much joy during difficult times.
“It’s a great diversion from what he’s going through with his cancer treatment, going to the hospital on a weekly basis,” Cayden’s father Tom Ingram said.
Cayden’s father and his grandfather introduced him to the game when he was only 3 years old. His favorite golfers are Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth, who sent a personalized video.
“Hey Cayden, it’s Jordan Spieth here. I’ve heard your story and I just wanted to say that it’s incredible what you’ve been through. I hear you’re on the back end of it now. I’m really happy for you man. I just wanted to thank you for being a fan and I’d like to invite you out with your dad to play at TPC Sawgrass sometime this spring.”
Cayden had the chance to meet Spieth during Wednesday’s practice round. As a surprise, Spieth even let Cayden and his family walk inside the ropes with him for his final few holes.
Now. Cayden will have this memory of being inside the ropes at 17 and meeting PGA Tour golfers with his family forever.