The injury that nearly broke Arizona State's Patience Rhodes may define her best season yet

Patience Rhodes, an amateur golfer from England, was on holiday in Australia with her family when she suffered a severe injury. While snorkeling, she slipped on a wet deck, falling and fracturing her fibula and tearing five ligaments in her left ankle and foot. Worried it would prevent her from competing in the Augusta National Womens Amateur, she faced a challenging recovery.

Rhodes' mother initially thought it was just a sprain, but a trip to the emergency room confirmed the severity of the injury. The injury halted Rhodes' best stretch of golf in her amateur career and sent her into a grueling rehabilitation process that tested her physically and mentally. For six weeks, she couldn't put any weight on her left foot, making everyday tasks like walking up and down stairs and taking out the trash extremely difficult.

Rhodes faced excruciating pain as she began physical therapy, working on regaining her ability to walk and eventually swing a golf club. Despite the mental and physical challenges, Rhodes made the cut at the ANWA and finished T-31, surprising herself with her performance. She led the Big 12 Championship with 18 holes remaining in the final round, despite battling back spasms and lingering pain.

Despite the injury, Rhodes is entering her final season at Arizona State, with hopes that this traumatic experience will fuel the strongest chapter of her college career.