Seven months ago PH Horgan III wasn’t even sure whether or not he would ever see a golf club again — let alone swing one.

The 46-year-old veteran of ten years on the lucrative US PGA Tour was diagnosed with a rare form of eye cancer last April.

It was a health condition that threatened to put an end to a magnificent professional golf career that began 22 years ago in 1984 — the same year Horgan won a first Bermuda Open at Port Royal.

But thanks to an overwhelming desire to persevere in the face of adversity, two successful surgeries and other related procedures, not only has Horgan made a speedy recovery in a short period of time, but his ordeal has also given him a new lease and appreciation on life.

“Having personally experienced a bout with cancer in a little way has changed my whole perspective on how I look at my health and what my priorities are,” Horgans said. “Your health is the most valuable thing you have, and you have to count your blessings everyday and appreciate all the things in life that really matter.

“Cancer is something that really catches you off guard and is something you have to deal with head on and stay positive about instead of worrying about all of the negative things which don’t help you to recover at all,” Horgan told The Royal Gazette <$>shortly after claiming a second Gosling’s Invitational title in two years at Belmont Hills earlier this week.

It was the same determination that swept the Nationwide Tour player to a two-shot victory over last year’s winner Kirk Hanefeld and Canadian Ian Doig that also helped him overcome his battles with cancer off the course.

“Basically when the doctor gives you the diagnosis you must keep a healthy outlook on life and also the situation at hand,” Horgan added. “I had to constantly tell myself ‘I’m not going to allow this thing to beat me up’ while golf was not even on my radar screen. I was just focused on getting my health back.”

Horgan was diagnosed with the rare form of cancer only two months after long-time Bermudian friend Yaton Outerbridge succumbed to the deadly disease which claims millions of lives annually.

“It’s not the same not having him (Outerbridge) stand in the gallery. He would always come out and watch me play in golf tournaments here,” the veteran golfer said.

“But one day he didn’t come out to see me play and when I called later I was told he was in the hospital. I used to stay at his house and was actually there when I first won the Bermuda Open in 1986.”

After successfully undergoing multiple eye surgeries in April and May, it was Horgan’s mental toughness that kicked into overdrive to the extent whereas in a matter of months he was back playing competitively.

The American pro missed the cut at the Deutsche Bank Championship Norton, Massachusetts in August and then placed third at the Bermuda Open last October in two of the handful of tournaments he has played in since his recovery. “I have only played in two Nationwide Tour events, the Bermuda Open and Tour School (PGA Tour Q School). And I had some really good rounds,” he added.

“I didn’t give myself much of a chance by playing only four or five events. But after having two surgeries and other procedures to drain the eye I’m really blessed to get rid of the cancer and be able to see out of the eye and continue playing golf.”

Horgan said maintaining a positive outlook on a negative situation ultimately tipped the scales in his favour and allowed him to conquer his enemy.

“I approached my situation as though I was playing in a tournament whereas I never go out on the golf course thinking about all the things I don’t want to happen to me,” the two-time Invitational champion added.

“I always try my best to remain positive and think about all of the birdies I can make and other positive things like that. But I am now getting to the point in my career where I probably should be getting ready for the Senior Tour. I still have four years of competitive golf left in me and I would like to continue playing on the Nationwide Tour and also take a little time off for health reasons.

“But winning tournaments like this (Gosling’s Invitational) also encourage me to keep playing and grinding out. Bermuda is very beautiful place and I always look forward to playing here.”