The 2023 Sony Open in Honolulu, Hawaii, has featured one very special debutant as cancer sufferer Michael Castillo marked his first appearance on the PGA Tour.
Castillo, 60, is the oldest player in the field this weekend at Waialae Country Club, where star names likes Jordan Spieth and Hideki Matsuyama have been in competition. Having resigned himself largely to senior competitions in recent years, Castillo's entry was a welcome surprise after winning the PGA's Aloha section.
“I thought that opportunity had passed many years ago,” Castillo said of his PGA prospects. “I only played in the section championship because it was at Poipu. The guys said, ‘You’ve got to play.’ I played well, putted good, it was 25 mph wind and I birdied 18 to win.”
It was only in November that Castillo, the head pro at Kapalua in Maui, underwent radiation treatment. The golf veteran was diagnosed with colon cancer almost five years, which then spread to his liver and lung, then back to his liver.
Nevertheless, he recorded a first-round 79 on Thursday before returning for a much more impressive second-round 74 with his brother caddying all the way. Castillo previously spoke about his diagnosis and the difficulty he's faced juggling treatments with his playing career.
“I knew in September I needed radiation for cancer on my liver,” he said. “I waited until that tournament, went to New Mexico for the Senior PNC (Professional National Championship) with my sister, Lori, on the bag, and then did treatments.”
“I went with radiation and I’ll know next month if it was successful. In December, it cleaned my body out and I feel pretty good. I’m ready for the Sony.”
It so happens Castillo's two brothers and their father each previously played the Sony Open, meaning his participation has prolonged an emotional family tradition. While some might recommend more rest and less golf, the senior star argued it's "hard to turn off your instinct" after playing for 50 years.
"There are many geek-out moments with some of the best in the world," Castillo continued. "Even though I'm not a young kid, I still admire the talent that's out here and want to see it, experience it and to talk to them about it. So it is special in a lot of different ways."
