Kenny Perry at Firestone CC, Honors Wife After Alzheimer’s Diagnosis

More than two years ago, Kenny Perry started hearing a concerned refrain from his three children.

“‘There’s something wrong with mom,’” they kept telling him.

But Perry couldn’t see it. He and Sandy had known each other since kindergarten in Franklin, Kentucky. They grew up together, parted ways only for different universities, and later celebrated their 42nd wedding anniversary.

Perry was engrossed in his career on the PGA Tour Champions, boasting 10 wins, alongside 14 victories on the PGA Tour. He also managed Country Creek, a public golf course he opened in Franklin in 1995.

“I didn’t think anything was wrong with her a couple years ago. I never did,” Perry said.

Eventually, the words of his children, Lesslye, Justin, and Lindsey, sunk in, prompting Perry to pay closer attention. As he recounted to PGA Tour Radio, during a Senior Open at a 36-hole club, Sandy ended up on the wrong course.

“I realized right then that it’s time for me to do something else,” he told the network.

Sandy, now 63, was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Consequently, Perry “retired” from professional golf in November 2021.

“I wasn’t ready to quit, but that’s life,” Perry added.

After finishing the first round of the Kaulig Companies Championship at Firestone Country Club, Sandy was there to meet him, along with Perry’s sister, brother-in-law, his caddie, and the caddie’s wife. The family stays by his side as he competes in his seventh Champions event of 2024.

“She’s in great health physically. She can walk. She walks me to death,” Perry said of Sandy. “We do a lot of walking at home around the neighborhood and stuff.

He added, “It’s just she cannot process any current information. Things in the past she’s fine with. People she knew, she knows. Your daily routine things, it’s tough for her.”

On Thursday, Sandy bumped into Ashley Appleby, wife of Stuart. Ashley mentioned that Sandy recognized her and even guided some patrons around the South Course.

“She has good days and bad days. Some days she’s really confused,” Perry noted.

“I dress her in the mornings, I pick her clothes out, and she’s good with it. She’s happy. I just hope it doesn’t change her spirit.”

Perry said he is allowed to play up to 11 Champions Tour events per year, thanks to his retired status.

“It’s too much to do. It’s hard to focus on her and focus on my golf,” he admitted. “I used to like to play three or four weeks, use the first couple weeks to get in a rhythm. It’s better for us if we just do one at a time. Play one week, take a couple weeks off, play a week … that really works good for her and the situation.”

Airline travel is generally out of the question for Perry and Sandy.

“I don’t really want to fly a lot with her because if we got separated, it would be a disaster,” he said. “We just drive to the tournaments we can drive to.”

They drove 6½ hours from Franklin because Perry has a fondness for Firestone and the friends he reconnects with there.

“I enjoy coming here. I love the people, I love the golf course, so I just want to come play a few more,” he remarked.

“My time’s past. I’m just out here enjoying … this is like a family. We’ve all grown up together with all the guys out here. When you’re home, it’s hard not seeing everybody. This is your family, this is where I like to be and want to be. I just can’t do it all the time.”

Boo Weekley, 50, who played with Perry on the 2008 U.S. Ryder Cup team, enjoyed spending two days paired with his old friend.

“It’s fun to see him. He’s such a good dude, and seeing his wife Sandy out here with him and being able to have fun,” Weekley said on Friday. “He’s playing so well right now. Get his driver a little bit fixed and he’ll be fine.”

Weekley didn’t mention Sandy’s Alzheimer’s battle.

“We all know. I’ve lost two grandparents and my great-grandparents to it, so I know,” Weekley explained. “It’s a tough situation. You don’t want to bring up stuff like that.”

While Perry’s tournament schedule is limited, he doesn’t miss the game too much.

“Not really. I’ve been doing it 40 years—30 on the regular tour and now, I’ll be 64 next month, so 14 years out here,” Perry said. “That’s a lot of golf.”

The Perrys have nine grandchildren, and Sandy loves their constant whirlwind of activity.

“We do a lot with gymnastics, dance, softball games, baseball games, golf tournaments, and tennis matches,” he said. “There’s a lot going on. We’re busy at home. That helps me not miss golf as much. Keeps her occupied. She’s kind of hyperactive. She always wants to be doing something. She doesn’t want to just sit in the house.”

Perry’s grandson, 13-year-old Rowdy Harris, has dominated his age group on the American Junior Golf Association circuit.

“He’s really good and talented. I’m excited to watch him and help him and play some golf with him,” Perry said.

While discussing Rowdy’s name, Perry noted, “Isn’t that a great name? Justin, his dad, kept coming to me, ‘It’s going to be Rowdy, but we’ve got to convince the rest of the family.’”

Perry also has a collection of about 20 vintage cars kept in buildings behind his house.

“That’s my drug. People have vices, that’s my vice. I just go pick one out and let ‘er go,” he said.

Coping with the challenges of Alzheimer’s is still something Perry is learning to handle.

“There are days I lose my patience, and I’ve got to bite my tongue, hold my breath, and hold my voice,” he said. “The tone of my voice is very important. I’ve just got to realize she may ask you the same thing three or four times, and I’ve got to realize it’s the first time she’s asked it in her mind. I get upset at times. She knows I get frustrated.

“That disease doesn’t affect her. It affects the whole family. It’s a tough deal. You wouldn’t wish that on anybody.”

Perry has taken Sandy to a holistic doctor, hoping that detoxifying her body will help her condition. While it sounds good in theory, he hasn’t seen any improvement. Mentally, he battles with what’s happening to her.

“She’s too young to be having this,” he lamented.

Perry, a longtime deacon in his church, prays for a cure, but his commitment never wavers.

“As long as she’s happy and healthy, I’ll take care of her, and we’ll be OK,” he said.

Perry’s fellow competitors on the Champions Tour offer their support however they can.

“It gives me chills thinking about it,” Jerry Kelly said Friday. “What he’s doing as a husband is exactly the way we all think about Kenny Perry. He’s got something more to play for than just himself now, too.

“My prayers to both of them. It’s a tough situation, but he is doing the right thing. … That’s just Kenny being Kenny.”

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Kenny Perry competes at Firestone CC with wife in mind after Alzheimer’s diagnosis

Source: Akron Beacon Journal