Brandon Valdes Returns to PGA Tour After Cancer Battle
· Yahoo Sports
A triumphant return to the fairway
The professional golf circuit often provides stories of incredible grit. For Brandon Valdes, the struggle wasn’t just about finding the center of the clubface. It was about a fight for his health. The young pro is set to compete in the Biltmore Championship Asheville this week. He does so after a grueling nine-month battle with primary mediastinal lymphoma. A PET scan in early June brought good news. It showed he is now cancer-free. This comeback happens as the PGA Tour returns to the Asheville area for the first time in over 80 years.
Young talent meets professional greatness
While the pros prepare for competition, the next generation of golfers got a special look at the action. According to reports, 40 youngsters from the First Tee of Western North Carolina recently visited The Cliffs at Walnut Cove. These kids didn’t just watch from the sidelines. They practiced on the course and sat with the pros to ask questions. For 16-year-old Jonathan Flint, the scale of the event was hard to miss. “It definitely is cool just seeing all these people out here and all these pros,” Flint said, adding that the experience was “awesome.”
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The event brings a high level of competition to the region. The PGA Tour notes that Valdes will join a field of talented players. He enters the week following a strong 2024 PGA Tour University season where he finished second. He also managed to make all three cuts in his professional outings last season. Other notable names include Carson Bertagnole, a sophomore at the University of North Carolina, and Tyler Watts, who holds the second-ranked amateur spot in the world. Even local legends will be present. Tyler Jones, a senior at Western Carolina, will make his professional debut. He is the first active male golfer from his school to play in a Tour event.
The atmosphere at the course is meant to inspire. PGA Tour Champions player Brandon Valdes shared some advice with the visiting youth. “Go out there and have a lot of fun,” Valdes told the group. He added a piece of wisdom that resonates with any athlete: “And if you love golf, golf will love you back.” For the older kids looking toward college careers, the stakes are high. Anna Moore, the Program Director for First Tee Western North Carolina, noted the importance of the setting. “Just being around this environment with these high-level players is such a once-in-a-lifetime experience for all these kids,” Moore said.
Beyond the players, the local community is heavily involved. Yahoo Sports UK reports that over 140 businesses in Buncombe County are participating in the tournament week. These local shops are offering special deals and themed events to celebrate the tournament. The tournament will take place at the Jack Nicklaus-designed course at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove. This brings significant attention to the Asheville area as the tournament runs from September 17-20.
The impact of a premier event
Bringing a PGA Tour event back to this region after eight decades changes the local landscape. It isn’t just about the golf. It’s about the visibility. Having players like Valdes and Watts competing on local soil provides a massive boost to the sport’s profile in North Carolina. The tournament creates a bridge between the professional stars and the local youth programs. This connection helps ensure the game stays healthy in the years to come. When young players see the level of skill required to compete, it sets a new standard for their own development. The presence of such high-level talent serves as a powerful tool for local tourism and community pride.
Tournament competition is scheduled to begin this Thursday and will run through Sunday at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove, per reports.