Tumor gives Immelman perspective

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- When Trevor Immelman was laid up in a hospital bed, wondering if that lump growing inside his body was cancerous, the last thing on his mind was winning a golf tournament -- much less a major.

He thought about all his loved ones, especially 1-year-old son Jacob.

"You want to hang around and be part of his growing up, try and make sure he turns into a good, upstanding citizen of the world," Immelman said. "It was all scary."

Fortunately, the tumor in Immelman's diaphragm was benign. On Friday, just four months removed from that harrowing experience, he found himself in sole possession of the lead midway through the Masters, shooting 4-under 68 for the second round in a row.

The 28-year-old South African heads into the weekend with a 1-stroke advantage over Brandt Snedeker and a commanding 7-shot lead over everyone's favorite, Tiger Woods.

Who knows if Immelman, who won the 2006 Western Open at Cog Hill, will still be on top when they hand out the green jacket Sunday. What is certain is he won't let disappointment or triumph take control of his life. He's already dealt with something far more stressful than standing over a 15-foot putt to win this tournament.

"It definitely gives you perspective," he said. "I went from winning a tournament to lying in a hospital bed waiting for results on a tumor. It definitely made me realize that golf wasn't my whole life."

Last December, coming off a win in his homeland, Immelman felt a severe pain around his ribcage. He also had trouble breathing. He withdrew from the South African Airways Open and went to see his doctor, who gave him the grim news: "There's something in there that has to come out."

"I don't think I was really knowing what was going on at that point," Immelman said. "They were pumping me so full of stuff just to try to get over the pain that I don't think it really mattered to me what the result was at that point. Obviously, my family was there every step of the way. They were obviously real nervous, and we were just thrilled when we found out it was some rare type of benign tumor."

With a 7-inch gash across his right lower back, Immelman needed a couple of weeks just to get back on his feet. It would take another month before he was able to start hitting a few chips and putts.

"I came home and said to my wife, 'I don't know what's going on,' because I was skulling them and duffing them," he said. "Four or five days later, I started making a few half-swings. The orders were just to take it day by day and if I feel some pain, stop. So I just gradually went on."

Immelman had to sit out the first few events of the new season, but he made it back on the course for the FBR Open the final day of January. Of course, he still had plenty of work to do to get his game back into tournament shape.

Through his first eight events of the year, Immelman missed the cut four times and didn't finish higher than a tie for 40th in stroke play. That hardly stamped him as a championship contender, but he suddenly found his swing when he got to Augusta.

Through two warm, sunny days, he has already broken 70 as many times in the Masters as he did in his first 20 rounds after the surgery.

"Obviously, this year is pretty special," said Immelman, who's made only one bogey through 36 holes. "To shoot two 68s in the first two days is probably beyond my expectations, so I'm pretty thrilled right now."

A year ago, he came down with a devil of a stomach parasite during the Masters, but still managed to make the cut. He shot 81 in brutal third-round conditions and finished in a tie for 55th, besting only three others who played on the weekend.

During the next few weeks, he lost 20 pounds, sat out a month and needed even longer to feel comfortable again with a club in his hands.

Nothing personal, Augusta National.

"It's just unfortunate what happened here," Immelman said. "But I'm enjoying this week. Any time you can come here, it's an absolute thrill."

Fellow South African Gary Player has long touted Immelman as a rising star, even though he had to endure heavy criticism for making him a captain's pick for the 2005 Presidents Cup over several international candidates who seemed more worthy.

"His swing is absolutely the closest that I have seen to Ben Hogan, and I've always thought that Ben Hogan was the best striker of the ball from tee to green that I ever saw," Player said. "Marvelous."

Immelman's fellow players admire his persistence.

"It's incredible," said Ian Poulter, who was three strokes off Immelman's 8-under 136. "It was a shock to everyone he had to go in for surgery. He's bounced back pretty quickly, so it shows how committed he is to getting fit and practicing hard, and that's obviously what he's done to get ready for Augusta."