Residing his dream: Brian Morris bought to play on the PGA Tour earlier than succumbing to most cancers when he obtained a sponsor’s exemption for the 2021 Butterfield Bermuda Championship ({Photograph} by Akil Simmons)
Skilled golfer Brian Morris, who impressed many due to his struggle in opposition to most cancers, has died on the age of 55.
Morris, who realised his dream of competing on the PGA Tour when he was granted a sponsor’s exemption into the 2021 Butterfield Bermuda Championship, handed away surrounded by his family and friends after he returned from hospital abroad on Sunday.
In an interview with The Royal Gazette in April 2021, Morris revealed the toll the illness had taken on his physique however his outstanding perspective, love of life and boundless optimism got here shining by.
“Your life isn’t vital except you might be vital to folks,” he mentioned. “In case you have been dealt a crap hand, then assist others who might have an analogous hand. Encompass your self with optimistic folks.
“Don’t bitch trigger it’s raining. Get your self an umbrella and be grateful your tank is filling up. Don’t be afraid to have a nasty day. You will get mad and unhappy, however let it out and transfer on. I’ve unhealthy days, however I additionally make some unhealthy days good.
“You gotta consider. Don’t hearken to statistics. Overlook about life expectancy! You’re not common … you might be you.
“I’ve helped and met so many individuals I might have by no means met earlier than and, possibly simply possibly, I bought this illness so I that may assist others. Possibly that’s my calling?
“I don’t have thousands and thousands however I’ve positivity to spare and I care; which may be value greater than any quantity.”
It’s exactly that generosity of spirit that has led the world of sport to unite in mourning for certainly one of Bermuda’s nice sportsman and characters, with golfers previous and current lining as much as pay to tribute to his life and profession.
Michael Sims competed within the 2021 Butterfield Bermuda Championship alongside Morris, and relayed the depth of emotion generated by his nice buddy’s passing
“I used to be very lucky to have identified Brian for therefore a few years, I don’t even know the place to start.
Butterfield Bermuda Championship: Brian Morris ({Photograph} by Akil Simmons)
“The issues that I’ll miss are the texting, the calling and the little conversations. However even 20 years in the past when he was working up at Belmont, the conversations that I had then with him, he was by no means afraid to put it on the road in simply telling you what he was considering.
“It at all times got here from a spot of affection, at the least that’s the way it got here to me. He at all times got here from a spot of affection and I used to be undoubtedly very lucky to have spent a number of time with him and to play some golf with him. Our expertise on the Butterfield Bermuda Championship I’ll reside with for no matter time I’ve left.
Brian Morris on the BPGA Stroke Play Championship ({Photograph} by Akil Simmons)
“I’m going to overlook him however I additionally know he’s at all times round me. Yesterday I used to be crying they usually had been tears of disappointment, but additionally pleasure simply to know that he’s ache free.
“Simply to see what he did with himself and the way he modified his methods a little bit bit. He bought into the golf neighborhood and to his affect is worldwide with one man from little outdated Bermuda touching folks throughout the globe and that’s fairly grand. It truly is.
“Every time he instructed you one thing, it was coming from his coronary heart. There was nothing ailing supposed in it and he caught up for what was proper. All of us make errors however he learnt from them and that’s what we liked about him as a result of he lived each second. I’m going to overlook him.”
The Butterfield Bermuda Championship look represented the head for Morris and the match organisers expressed their condolences.
“The Bermuda Tourism Authority, Butterfield and our occasion administration crew are all deeply saddened by the information,” Danielle Carrera, Event Director of the Butterfield Bermuda Championship, mentioned.
“We really feel tremendously fortunate to have been part of Brian’s phenomenal journey, and to have helped him fulfil his dream to play in a PGA TOUR occasion with a sponsor’s exemption to our 2021 occasion.
“Brian Morris was a gifted, caring and selfless soul dedicating a few years of his life to creating a distinction regardless of his battle with most cancers. Our ideas are together with his household and plenty of family members at this tough time. One love, Brian Morris.”
Port Royal skilled Steven Lambert Jr was usually in competitors in opposition to Morris however discovered it not possible to not heat to his opponent.
“He was a competitor, chief, buddy and in the end my counterpart co-worker with him being the pinnacle skilled at Ocean View Golf Course and me being the pinnacle professional at Port Royal Golf Course,” he mentioned.
“I’ll miss him dropping optimistic power, perception and recommendation in the direction of my profession and in the end one other mentor that I had after the passing of my former boss Greg Maybury.
“I’m going to overlook him and I want his household and buddies condolences and hope that I can proceed to assist across the neighborhood, like he did in golf with youth and adults to unfold the positivity of golf round Bermuda, as a result of his completely happy place was the golf course and I attempt to reside the identical approach.”
Bermuda skilled Dwayne Pearman is one other who will miss the jovial Morris.
“It’s a tragic day and Brian was a trooper,” he mentioned. “He was a fantastic man and properly appreciated by everybody that knew him.
“I bought to fulfill Brian as a golf skilled. He was an excellent skilled, he was taught properly and all people actually appreciated him. It’s unhappy that he’s gone.
“Whoever got here into contact with Brian knew he was the man. He would make you chortle 24 hours and he was a enjoyable man and was at all times smiling. At all times completely happy go fortunate and I’m glad I bought to know him.
“He was simply so pleasant and good and it’s too unhealthy that it’s come to this. However I simply need to want his household all the very best; his spouse and his children and all people and I hope they only grasp in there as a result of I do know it isn’t simple.
“Brian used to name me greed and I’m going to overlook seeing him at Ocean View. I used to stroll within the workplace and very first thing he’d say was ‘hey greed, how’s issues going and all that stuff’ so I’m going to overlook him.”
Brian Morris greets well-wisher D’Ani Pitcher, 9, on the second day of the 2021 Butterfield Bermuda Championship ({Photograph} by Akil Simmons)
Daniel Augustus heard the information after competing at Torrey Pines on Sunday and remembered Brian as an excellent man.
“My condolences to the Morris household. Brian was a staple of golf in Bermuda so my condolences and relaxation in peace Brian.
“It’s robust as a result of Brian was all people’s buddy. He was an excellent man and he will probably be absolutely missed; not simply within the golf neighborhood however interval. The Flatts County Mayor, no one liked Flatts like Brian loves Flatts.”
Ebonie Cox, who was the primary feminine golfer to play within the Johnnie Walker Traditional at Ocean View Golf Course final 12 months, paid tribute to her buddy.
“We bonded off of a ardour for golf initially however he confirmed me a lot greater than that,” she mentioned.
“I used to inform him how a lot him and his spouse jogged my memory of my mom; him for his resilience and her for simply the power she confirmed and continues to point out. He would at all times stress the significance of household and ensuring the folks you’re keen on and care about knew it.
“All I can take into consideration after I bear in mind him is his ardour; his ardour to reside. His ardour to like and his ardour to assist. His ardour was infectious and I’ll without end be glad about the assist and most significantly the friendship we constructed.
“My coronary heart, ideas and prayers are together with his household and buddies.”
The Bermuda Authorities’s Consolidated Golf Programs Board of Trustees mentioned in a press release: “We specific our profound disappointment on studying of the passing of our golf skilled at Ocean View Golf Course, Mr Brian Morris.
“Brian’s braveness battling terminal sickness turned a job mannequin for a lot of to emulate as he lived with objective to the very finish. Our prayers and heartfelt condolences exit to his spouse, youngsters and household.
“As well as, we recognise his {golfing} and sporting household in Bermuda and world wide are additionally mourning his passing.
“Brian Morris didn’t enable a terminal sickness to stop him from dwelling his life purposefully.
“Might he relaxation In peace.”
It was not simply on the golf course the place Morris’s sporting prowess was evident as he was a good cricketer in his youth and former nationwide participant and coach Barry Sousa remembers him properly.
“I handled Brian at Nationals with the league crew in addition to the Shell Youth Event,” Sousa mentioned.
“He performed together with Derek Wright, Mark and John Ray, Albert Steede, Cleon Scotland and all these guys and he was a good cricketer.
“He was a left-handed opening bat, however he may additionally bowl and was an excellent fielder. He was undoubtedly a good participant.
“He was a fun-loving sort of man and the man you need within the altering room. For those who wished a little bit joke or chortle to deliver you up Brian was the person. He was an excellent man to have within the crew.”
Former Wolves president Kavon Trott additionally recalled Morris’s days as a footballer.
“I used to be the coach and he was my left winger,” Trott mentioned. Brian educated and labored very onerous as a footballer.
“He got here from BAA however grew up within the neighbourhood so all people already knew him and he simply fitted proper in. He got here and did his job and all of us had fun. After we performed soccer win, lose or draw we at all times had fun and that was our factor.”
Saltus Grammar College, the place Morris attended highschool, additionally paid respect to the previous scholar, who excelled at cricket as a left-arm seamer earlier than turning his consideration absolutely to golf.
“The honest condolences from all of the Saltus household to the household of alum Brian Morris,” Saltus mentioned in a Fb submit. “His struggle in opposition to most cancers was unbelievable and his fortitude all through the battle was a lesson to us all.
“Brian was actually certainly one of life’s nice characters and will probably be enormously missed by his household and legion of buddies.”