Brendan Valdes is set to play the Biltmore Championship in Asheville, North Carolina, on a sponsor exemption, marking his first PGA Tour-sanctioned action since Q-School in December, according to the original reporting. The 23-year-old golfer spent the last nine months battling primary mediastinal lymphoma, a journey that included a 9-centimeter mass pressing against his heart and lung, a partial lung collapse from untreated pneumonia, and successful chemotherapy that led to a cancer-free PET scan in early June.
Diagnosis and Hospitalization in Orlando and Houston
Valdes entered the new year preparing for his third season on the Korn Ferry Tour with conditional status, fresh off a December engagement to girlfriend Rachel Gourley and a holiday trip to England. However, a mild cold quickly escalated when he began coughing up small amounts of blood, prompting an emergency room visit in Orlando on New Year’s Day. Initially treated for suspected bronchitis, doctors soon discovered a 9-centimeter mass.
“It was too unbelievable to be true,” Valdes said regarding the initial diagnosis, as reported by the source material. Shortly after his first round of chemotherapy, he contracted a lung infection from untreated pneumonia. This led to a partial lung collapse and a resting pulse exceeding 150 beats per minute, keeping him hospitalized for another week.
Recovery, Return to Golf, and Competitive Play
Valdes completed his final dose of chemo on May 15 and received an all-clear result following a June PET scan, after which he immediately had his port removed. He wasted no time returning to the links, starting with wedges and working up to drivers. “As soon I was able to hit drivers, it was pedal to the metal,” Valdes said. In late June, his caddie and friend Tiago Barni challenged him to a match at Isleworth Golf and Country Club outside Orlando. Having gone six months without touching a club, Valdes shot a 3-under 69 from the Tiger tees. His first official tournament back was a G-Pro Tour event in Huntsville, Alabama, held Sept. 1–3, where he fired a second-round 62 and finished third at 12 under par.
Did you know? Valdes finished second in the 2024 PGA Tour University graduating class, securing conditional status on the Korn Ferry Tour prior to his medical leave.
Upcoming Schedule and Charity Efforts
Beyond his return at the Biltmore Championship, Valdes holds Korn Ferry Tour status via a medical extension for the upcoming season and retains the option to play through Q-School for improved status. Outside of competitive golf, Valdes and Gourley are scheduled to marry on Nov. 29 in Port St. Lucie, Florida, and recently purchased their first home in South Florida. Additionally, Valdes is organizing the sixth annual Brendan Valdes Charity Golf Scramble vs. Pediatric Cancer, scheduled for Dec. 14 at Orange Tree Country Club in Orlando. The event benefits the Ian Supra Memorial Foundation, named after a high school friend who died of esophageal cancer in 2015. “Now, I have this greater appreciation for golf and life, but also a greater understanding that should help me do an even better job of helping kids and their families dealing with cancer,” Valdes said.
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of cancer did Brendan Valdes battle?
Valdes was diagnosed with primary mediastinal lymphoma in January, featuring a 9-centimeter mass pressing against his heart and lung.
When was Valdes cleared of cancer?
Following chemotherapy that concluded in May, a PET scan in early June deemed Valdes cancer-free, and he subsequently had his medical port removed.
What event marks Valdes’ return to the PGA Tour?
Valdes is returning at the Biltmore Championship in Asheville, North Carolina, playing on a sponsor exemption.
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