A 49-year-old Brisbane businessman who beat cancer is heading to the USA to take on golf's biggest hitters in the World Long Drive Championship.
Jason Atkins scored a shock win at the Australian titles last week, beating players half his age.
A part-time golfer who has overcome mouth cancer and a dislocated back in recent years, his story ranks as a national sporting fairytale.
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"I was never even a golfer - about 15 years ago I bought a house on a golf course and it came with free membership for the club," Atkins told Wide World of Sports.
"So I thought, 'What the hell - I'll give it a go'.
"I found I could hit the ball pretty straight and hard so entered a long ball event and did well… and it's all come from there."
Atkins, who boasts a career longest shot of a mammoth 407 metres, was getting good results in long ball competitions but his career looked over following a nightmare year in 2015.
"I dislocated my back - basically because I didn't look after my body - and then found I had mouth cancer," he said.
"They had to cut out two-thirds of my lip and chin. It was pretty scary.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CxkcAgVL7uc/?utm_source=ig_embed&"I took a long break from the game but now I'm back."
Atkins credits much of his success to former Dragons rugby league grand final prop Tony Priddle - now a 'mind coach'.
"Tony is my personal trainer - he got me into the mental side of things," he said.
"A lot of players can hit more or less the same distance - but it's the one percenters [that get you wins]. Tony has taught me [what] to use in my head [and] that makes a difference.
"He has enabled me to switch into the zone on call and gets me to perform at my peak.
"I love the game and lookout America - here I come."
A 49-year-old Brisbane businessman who beat cancer is heading to the USA to take on golf's biggest hitters in the World Long Drive Championship.
Jason Atkins scored a shock win at the Australian titles last week, beating players half his age.
A part-time golfer who has overcome mouth cancer and a dislocated back in recent years, his story ranks as a national sporting fairytale.
READ MORE: Panthers' message to Luai as NRL rivals circle star
READ MORE: Awkward Kangaroos selection question rattles Tedesco
READ MORE: NRL cracks down on Addo-Carr after wild brawl
"I was never even a golfer - about 15 years ago I bought a house on a golf course and it came with free membership for the club," Atkins told Wide World of Sports.
"So I thought, 'What the hell - I'll give it a go'.
"I found I could hit the ball pretty straight and hard so entered a long ball event and did well… and it's all come from there."
Atkins, who boasts a career longest shot of a mammoth 407 metres, was getting good results in long ball competitions but his career looked over following a nightmare year in 2015.
"I dislocated my back - basically because I didn't look after my body - and then found I had mouth cancer," he said.
"They had to cut out two-thirds of my lip and chin. It was pretty scary.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CxkcAgVL7uc/?utm_source=ig_embed&"I took a long break from the game but now I'm back."
Atkins credits much of his success to former Dragons rugby league grand final prop Tony Priddle - now a 'mind coach'.
"Tony is my personal trainer - he got me into the mental side of things," he said.
"A lot of players can hit more or less the same distance - but it's the one percenters [that get you wins]. Tony has taught me [what] to use in my head [and] that makes a difference.
"He has enabled me to switch into the zone on call and gets me to perform at my peak.
"I love the game and lookout America - here I come."
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