After finding a hole in his chest, Bud Cauley now leads Rory McIlroy on PGA Tour

Bud Cauley once took off his shirt in 2021 and found a hole in the side of his chest. Fast forward three years and the man once tipped for PGA Tour stardom was doffing his cap and taking a one-stroke lead into the weekend at the Cognizant Classic at The Palm Beaches. 

Cauley, 33, made his official PGA Tour return following time out of the game with a solo 65th at the WM Phoenix Open last month. 

He had been forced onto the sidelines as a result of serious complications from a car crash in 2018, very much like Tiger Woods.

Cauley's car accident six years ago saw him suffer six broken ribs, a collapsed right lung and a fractured left leg. 

It happened during the second round of the 2018 Memorial Tournament on the PGA Tour.

"I was just so thankful to be alive," said Cauley, who saw his good friend and two-time major champion Justin Thomas spend that Friday evening with him in hospital.

Cauley had surgery and then returned to the PGA Tour later in the fall that season.

He even went on to keep his card for two full seasons, and he contended several times in events only to come up short of a win. 

But competitive golf was to soon take a backseat prior to The Masters in 2021. 

As the sun sets in The Palm Beaches, @BudCauley takes the outright lead @The_Cognizant. pic.twitter.com/wnTA7wd58y

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 1, 2024

After visiting the doctor in April that season, Cauley was forced to undergo another operation - and there were some serious complications. Very serious ones in fact. 

According to the PGA Tour: "Cauley saw a couple of doctors who thought maybe the pain was derived from plates that had been put in his chest. He went in for an incision, but the plates were unable to be removed, as the bone had grown on top of the plate."

Cauley said:

Then his wife Kristi noticed a big problem. 

Cauley continued:

He went back into hospital and later admitted "a couple more surgeries didn't heal very well, and it was just a whole mess."

Leaderboard after play was suspended on Friday @The_Cognizant:



1. @BudCauley (-11)

T2. @AustinEckroat (-10)

T2. Garrick Higgo

T4. @KevinGolfYu (-9)

T4. @V_Perez2



Round 2 will resume Saturday morning at 7 a.m. ET.

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 2, 2024

If that wasn't bad enough, Cauley had a seroma, which is a buildup of fluids where the tissue has been removed, as well as a C. difficule infection.

Cauley told the PGA Tour: 

But after some very dark days in the life of Bud Cauley, the 33-year-old American is enjoying some light at the end of the tunnel.

Everything that could go right has gone right for him at the Cognizant Classic so far this week as Cauley has carded rounds of 66 and 65 to take a one-stroke lead into the weekend on 11-under par. 

Cauley finds himself one shot clear of Austin Eckroat and Garrick Higgo. 

Kevin Yu and Victor Perez are two shots off the pace on 9-under par.

Then comes arguably the man Cauley will fear most over the weekend in tournament-favourite and World No.2 Rory McIlroy. 

McIlroy is joined on 8-under par by a host of players including former Open champion Shane Lowry, PGA Tour star Cameron Young and last week's winner Jake Knapp. 

While the task in hand for Cauley is a giant one given the strength in depth stacked up behind him heading into the weekend, Cauley is just thankful he still has an opportunity to win his first PGA Tour title. 

Cauley, who finds himself at 1258th in the world, said after the second round: 

McIlroy might be the man to beat this weekend, but if anyone has shown they are up for the fight, it's Bud Cauley. 

VIEW LIVE SCORES HERE

Who wins the Cognizant Classic? #PGATOUR

— GolfMagic (@GolfMagic) March 2, 2024

What do you make of Bud Cauley's incredible return to the PGA Tour? Will he get the job done this weekend, or will Rory McIlroy come through for the win? Share your thoughts and comments over on the GolfMagic social media channels.

Take me to more golf news!