Chip Sullivan's year started with him battling a crippling illness and him questioning whether he could play much competitive golf again. It is coming to a close with him being celebrated with television specials, becoming a media darling, signing autograph requests at major championships, and having the student section at his alma mater chant his name while he was being honored at halftime. Talk about getting pleasant surprises!
In December of 2006, Sullivan was diagnosed with hemochromatosis, which ultimately led to diabetes. Recovering and adjusting to life with this persistent illness left golf at the bottom of his priority list.
"When I was diagnosed with hemochromatosis and diabetes, I was just totally 100 percent focused on that and just trying to get myself healthy," Sullivan stated. "I didn't touch a club for over three months. I didn't feel like it. Health-wise, I wasn't up to hitting balls or anything. This spring [was] horrible."
But Sullivan's fortunes changed with a cross-country trip to Sunriver Resort in Sunriver, Ore. There, at the 2007 PGA Professional National Championship, Sullivan answered any questions he or anyone else might have about his game as he dominated a talented field to win the championship going away.
The victory led to a spot in the 89th PGA Championship at Southern Hills and a spot on the United States team at the PGA Cup.
Though Sullivan did not play as well as he would have liked at Southern Hills, he was thrilled to find great fan support who had read, seen, or heard of his win in Oregon and/or saw a special about his year that had aired on THE GOLF Channel leading up the PGA Championship.
And at the PGA Cup, he helped the U.S. team recapture the Llandudno Trophy when he overwhelmed his Sunday singles opponent, taking a seven-up lead at the turn and closing the match out by hole 14. The United States team earned 13.5 points overall for the week, the absolute minimum they could have earned and recaptured the cup. With each point being so critical, Sullivan was able to earn the team three points with his play.
And then in mid-October, at halftime of the Ole Miss football game against rival Alabama, Chip and his family came out to a raucous cheer to be honored as a favorite son of his alma mater. Amid the congratulations for all of his accomplishments, the student section broke out in a chorus of "Chip, Chip, Chip."
"It was really cool," Sullivan admitted. "I got goosebumps."
From diabetes and hemochromatosis to goosebumps. A great year indeed.
