More than two years ago, Kenny Perry tuned out the worried refrain of his three children.
“’There’s something wrong with mom,’” he said they kept telling him.
But Perry didn’t see it. He met his future wife, Sandy, in kindergarten in Franklin, Kentucky. They grew up together, parting only when they attended different universities. They’ve since celebrated their 42nd wedding anniversary.
Perry was immersed in his career playing on the PGA Tour Champions, where he’s won 10 times, after 14 victories on the PGA Tour. He also has his “little golf course,” Country Creek, a public layout he opened in their hometown in 1995.
“I didn’t think anything was wrong with her a couple years ago. I never did,” Perry said.
But the words of Lesslye, Justin and Lindsey finally sunk in, and Perry started paying attention. As he told PGA Tour Radio, he was playing a Senior Open at a 36-hole club and Sandy ended up on the wrong course.
“I realized right then that it’s time for me to do something else,” he told the tour’s network.
Sandy, now 63, was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. He “retired” from professional golf in November 2021.
“I wasn’t ready to quit, but that’s life,” Perry said.
After he finished the first round of the Kaulig Companies Championship Thursday at Firestone Country Club, Sandy was waiting for him by the clubhouse with Perry’s sister and brother-in-law, his caddie and his wife. The family continues to walk with him as he competes in his seventh Champions event of 2024.
“She in great healthy 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.
‘It’s inspiring’: John Senden competing at Kaulig Companies Championship with Parkinson’s
“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 ran into Ashley Appleby, wife of Stuart. Ashley said Sandy recognized her and even told some patrons nearby how to get around the South Course.
“She has good days and bad days. Some days she’s really confused,” Perry said.
“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.”
With his retired status, Perry said he is allowed to play up to 11 Champions Tour events per year.
“It’s too much to do. It’s hard to focus on her and focus on my golf,” he said. “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.”
Flying, though, is largely out of the question.
“I don’t really want to fly a lot with her because if we got separated, it would be disaster,” he said. “We just drive to the tournaments we can drive to.”
‘LeBron has walked the walk’: Hall of Famer Peyton Manning salutes LeBron James in Akron
They made the 6½-hour trip from Franklin because Perry loves Firestone and the friends he is reconnecting with.
“I enjoy coming here, I love the people, I love the golf course, so I just want to come play a few more,” he said.
“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 and has competed against him for years, enjoyed spending two days in a threesome with his old pal.
“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 Friday. “He’s playing so well right now. Get his driver a little bit fixed and he’ll be fine.”
But Weekley said he never mentioned Sandy’s battle with Alzheimer’s.
“We all know. I’ve lost two grandparents and my great grandparents to it, so I know,” Weekley said. “It’s a tough situation. You don’t want to bring up stuff like that.”
Perry could miss the game with his tournament schedule limited, but he said that’s not the case.
“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,” he said. “That’s a lot of golf.”
The Perrys have nine grandchildren, six in Kentucky, and he said Sandy loves the kids’ constant whirlwind of activity.
