'I was mourning the death of my golf game' - Sara Byrne opens up on elbow injury

Irish golf sensation Sara Byrne from Douglas has disclosed the severe nature of the elbow injury that has sidelined her from the sport throughout the current year.

What started as an unusual accident nearly ended her burgeoning career, but Byrne is now steadily recovering and views the game from an entirely new angle, having taken her first significant break from the relentless demands of professional golf in over half a decade.

The University of Miami alumna shared details of the fall on January 5th that resulted in a fractured elbow and partially torn ligaments, compelling her to face the daunting prospect that her professional golfing aspirations could be cut short before they even properly launched.

The unfortunate incident occurred while Byrne was training at her coach's home gym. Runoff from melting ice on the roof had dripped and then refroze, creating a dangerous patch outside.

"I simply stepped outside," she recounted, "and it was like an ice rink. I just fell, unfortunately, in another difficult way."

The fall led to a fractured right elbow and partial tears in both associated ligaments. For a right-handed golfer, this was a severe setback, though her surgeon provided some unexpected reassurance.

"He told me," she remembered, "'You're fortunate it was your right arm, being a right-handed golfer.' Apparently, it's the better elbow to break."

An initial assessment suggested seeking a second surgical opinion due to the minimal displacement of the bone fracture.

She was informed that surgical intervention would likely create scar tissue, potentially jeopardizing her professional career.

"My reaction was, 'Okay, well, stay far away from me. You're not coming anywhere near me,'" she quipped, reflecting on the serious discussion.

The surgeon concurred, recommending a focus on rehabilitation, prompt removal of the sling, and initiating elbow movement as soon as feasible.

The initial weeks proved agonizing for the spirited 24-year-old Cork golfer, as she was unable to move her arm and even restricted from performing leg exercises at the gym.

For a period of three to four weeks, her instructions were to do "literally nothing."

"I felt like I was mourning the death of my golf game at that stage," she confessed, "because there was uncertainty about how it would heal."

Doctors could not assure her that she would regain full extension of her arm, plunging the former Curtis Cup player into a maelstrom of emotions concerning her future prospects.

"I consulted a sports doctor," she disclosed, "and he said, 'Look, it takes much more than a fall to truly end a golf career.' He reassured me, 'It will be okay; you just need to be extremely careful with it, allow it to heal completely, and give it the necessary time.'"

Byrne dedicated herself wholeheartedly to her rehabilitation, and the outcomes have surpassed all initial expectations.

She has recovered 97 percent of the straightening capacity in her elbow, significantly exceeding the 95 percent goal set by her doctors.

Upon finally receiving clearance to hit golf balls, she was initially limited to just 50 per day, with gradual weekly increases of 10 or 15 balls permitted thereafter.

"Anyone who knows me understands I can hit balls for hours," she remarked. "I adore it; I'd spend countless hours on the range. So, after hitting 50 golf balls, I thought, 'Is that all?'"

She recently completed a six-hour practice session on the range in Miami, where she has been undertaking her training amidst the sunny weather.

Moreover, she's now able to execute full shots without the aid of taping or compression sleeves, though she maintains a cautious approach to avoid rushing her return.

"The consistent advice from my doctor, surgeon, and physio has been not to rush back too soon," she stated. "Even if it feels okay, they warned, the elbow will eventually give out."

While she has mentally targeted a return at the Investec SA Women's Open in South Africa, scheduled for April 23-26, she is carefully managing her expectations and will only compete again when she feels fully confident in her recovery.

"I'm also making an effort not to burden myself with excessive pressure," she explained. "If I can participate in South Africa, that would be perfect. But if not, I'm okay with that too."

Adopting an optimistic view, she feels that her forced break from the golf course has granted her invaluable new perspective, especially after years of uninterrupted golf since relocating to Florida for her collegiate career in 2020.

"It has, in a way, shown me life beyond golf, something I haven't experienced in ages," she acknowledged. "It's been a pleasant realization that, you know, life without golf isn't so bad either. Ultimately, a golf shot isn't a matter of life or death."

She concluded the previous season impressively, securing her Ladies European Tour (LET) card by narrowly making it into the top 70 on the Order of Merit. This success came after a challenging early-season attempt to compete on the LPGA’s second-tier Epson Tour, where she learned the importance of fully concentrating on the LET.

Just two days prior to her fall, her entire year's schedule had been meticulously planned. Now, however, she will be eligible for a medical extension next season.

At minimum, she anticipates missing seven tournaments, yet she maintains a positive outlook for the upcoming season and confirms that the KPMG Women's Irish Open at The K Club is a definite highlight on her revised schedule.

She also eagerly anticipates revisiting the courses she competed on for the first time as an LET rookie last year.

"I believe that in the long term, this will prove to be a significant positive development for me, though it's likely difficult to fully grasp that at present," she further commented.

"It was certainly hard to see any positives during the initial weeks. So, I'm striving to extract as many beneficial aspects from this experience as I possibly can."