POTOMAC, Md. — Golfers at the Quicken Loans National began wearing orange ribbons Friday in support of Hunter Mahan’s sister-in-law, who is battling leukemia.
Katie Enloe, the sister of Mahan’s wife Kandi, has fought acute myeloid leukemia (AML) since January and has been released from the hospital to spend her remaining days and weeks with her family and friends, according to the PGA Tour. Orange ribbons stand for cancer and multiple sclerosis awareness.
Hunter Mahan was scheduled to play in this week’s field, but chose instead to stay with his family.
Kevin Streelman, fresh off shooting a round of 62 Friday, brought up Enloe unprompted.
“With the news today of Kandi Mahan’s sister, I think it put all this in a proper place this morning, just knowing where your priorities are with our family and health and healthy children and loved ones,” Streelman said. “It just puts golf in the proper perspective.”
Enloe is married to Southern Methodist University golf coach Jason Enloe, who coached PGA Tour player Bryson DeChambeau there. Several other Tour pros are familiar with the coach and his family.
“I know Jason Enloe as well. I play golf at Trinity Forest (SMU’s home course) as my home course in Dallas,” Beau Hossler said. “Obviously it’s a really, really unfortunate, tragic situation and I wish them the best. There’s not much you can say, obviously, but wish them peace right now.”
Marc Leishman had a similar scare in 2015 when his wife Audrey was diagnosed with toxic shock syndrome and given a 5 percent chance to live. She survived.
Leishman said he feels for what the Mahans and Enloes are enduring.
“I can’t say I know what they’re going through, because it’s a very different situation,” he said. “Life can get turned on its head, turned upside down, really quickly. Unfortunately for their family, that’s what’s happened.
“It’s extremely sad, having young kids and all that. I thought I would be going through the same thing there for a while, so I’m one of the lucky ones, as is my wife and our kids.”
• Adam Zielonka can be reached at azielonka@washingtontimes.com.
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