BROOKLINE, Mass. – Joel Dahmen understands the archetype of a professional golfer. Head down. One shot at a time. Stick to the process. Keep outsiders at arm’s length to maintain optimal focus.
But that’s just not Dahmen, no matter how much success he has on the PGA TOUR. He’s normal. Relatable. He’s been through too much to act otherwise. His mom died of cancer when he was in high school. He was diagnosed with testicular cancer in his early 20s, undergoing surgery and chemotherapy; he’s now cancer-free. He lost his scholarship at the University of Washington after admittedly “partying his way out of school.” He had setbacks at Q-School and struggled with motivation.
Spurred on by encouragement from family and friends, though, Dahmen’s last decade has brought a consistent upward arc. He gained PGA TOUR Canada status in 2014, and he won the Order of Merit to earn Korn Ferry Tour status. He earned his first TOUR card in 2016. He won his first TOUR title at last year’s Corales Puntacana Championship.