The phenomenal story of Brett White, who qualified for WM Phoenix Open 6 years after defying death

Six years ago, Brett White was fighting for his life against a viral infection that nearly killed him. Today, he's qualified for the WM Phoenix Open, a PGA Tour event.

Andre Metzger won the qualifier, and White and Dalton Ward each shot six under 66 and avoided a playoff, thus securing their spot in the event.

White is easily the most impressive competitor in the field, though. Six years ago, he was hospitalized after contracting encephalitis and was on death's door for three weeks.

After that, he had to re-learn several things, including how to walk. A month after being in the hospital, he was swinging a golf club again (with support). Nine months after that, he was golfing again. Five years later, he's officially competing in a PGA Tour event.

Two years ago, White said via Golf Channel:

“It’s been a wild ride. Over a long journey, sometimes you go back and go, wow, I gotta be thankful for where I’m at. There was a point in the hospital where it was, hey, let’s make sure you can be on your own; and then it was, OK, I want to be able to run around with my kids; then it was, let’s play golf for fun; and it just kept on progressing. I’ve tried to get better every day, and I don’t think I’ve stopped.”

This will officially be White's first PGA Tour start, marking the completion of a long and incredible journey.

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What happened to Brett White?

Brett White suffered a complicated tragedy many years ago. He began to sense things were off with his equilibrium, and he was having other issues and sought medical help. His family said he was gasping for breath while sleeping.

He very quickly went downhill and was rushed to a hospital. The staff thought he might have vertigo, which would explain the equilibrium issues. Unfortunately, White's condition was much rarer than that.

His brain was "under attack by a virus and was swelling at an alarming rate" (Golf Digest).

He said:

“I didn’t know, or wasn’t told, at the time but at that point my life was in serious jeopardy. I was reduced to nothing."

The doctors warned him he very well might not golf again. A condition like this isn't something people easily recover from, and it's not something that has no serious long-term side effects.

His father said:

“I recall my wife, Patty [White's mom], crying. Talking about the possibility Brett would never golf again.”

Brett White vowed that he would get back on the golf course. It was going to be an extremely long journey that most people wouldn't have even attempted, but White was resolute.

Brett White made a miraculous comeback to golf.

He had to learn how to walk, talk, and do everything all over again. He couldn't play golf at all, not even remotely. He began to recover slowly but surely (and perhaps faster than most people).

Eventually, he returned to the course, and today, his PGA Tour dream has been officially realized.