Litchfield teen overcomes serious injuries, golfs his way to success at state sectionals

Ty Olson’s family and his doctors worried he may never walk again. On Tuesday, he is proving them wrong out on the golf course.

Back in 2014, Olson was in a severe head-on car crash with his dad and his brother. Olson’s injuries were the most serious. He sustained a traumatic brain injury and spent three days in a coma.

Dr. Peter Kim with Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare says Olson’s skull had separated from the rest of his spinal column. Kim did surgery to fuse both parts together.

"He was at risk of becoming paralyzed in both arms and legs," he said.

Olson spent months with a wheelchair and walker and even longer in a neck collar. All of a sudden, contact sports like hockey and football that he loved were no longer safe for him to play. That’s when he picked up a golf club for the first time.

"When I’m golfing, it takes my mind off everything. Call it therapy, call it whatever you want to call it," Olson said.

Olson is now on his middle school golf team in Litchfield, Minnesota. He’s become so good at the game that he’s been asked to play on the JV and varsity squads.

"I was very nervous but relieved all my hard work paid off," he said.

Tuesday, Olson competed on the school’s sectional team for a shot at the state tournament.

"I am proud of him for the golfer he is, but I am also just so proud of the person he is," his dad, Chris Olson, said.