Cancer survivor to return to golf after 20 months

When Jarrod Lyle returns to golf after a 20-month layoff at the Australian Masters, he expects some teary eyes on the tee.

“Just walking to that first tee and teeing the ball up and trying to hit it _ that’s probably going to be the hardest thing,” Lyle said Tuesday at Royal Melbourne.

Lyle’s wife, Briony, became pregnant despite medical advice that Lyle’s first bout of cancer and the resulting chemotherapy would leave him sterile.

With a medical exemption to return to the PGA Tour whenever he feels he’s ready _ and it might not be until late in 2014 _ Lyle has found his second bout of cancer illuminating.

Lyle will tee off just after midday on the first hole Thursday with two veterans to help him along _ fellow Australian and 2006 U.S.

The cartoon duck is a mascot for kids who come through the Challenge charity, and Woods wore it out of respect for Lyle, as did many players in the field not long after Lyle’s second cancer fight was known.