‘Like A Vapor’

SOUTH BEND, INDIANA | After holing a 10-foot par putt on the 18th green for an opening 71 in the U.S. Senior Open on Friday afternoon and shaking hands with his playing partners, amateur Sean Knapp put his arms around his daughter/caddie Kensey and they gave each other a hug.

Just like last year at the U.S. Senior Open at the Broadmoor and so many other times in the 10 years Kensey has caddied for her father.

Only this time was different because this was a hug that might not have been.

In late 2018 at the end of what Sean Knapp called a dream year – he played the USGA’s Celebration of Champions at Shinnecock Hills, the U.S. Amateur at Pebble Beach and the Senior Open at the Broadmoor all with his daughter as his caddie – Kensey found out she had Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Both Sean and Kensey keep a photograph in their phones from the 18th green at the Senior Open last year, a shot of the two of them walking off the final green arm in arm in the fading light.

“I said some day when your mom and dad are not around you will remem...