As golf pro Danny Willett puts our 'Man Of Men' centre stage on the course, his former coach shares his prostate cancer story and calls for a better test.

A random letter through the post triggered a life-altering chain of events for Steve, the England Golf coach who helped Danny Willett and many other household names in the sport like Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood, as youngsters.

Steve is 69, a former PGA pro himself, and is fit and healthy. Back in early 2020, he was one of 5,000 people randomly chosen to take part in a trial called BARCODE1 funded by the Institute Of Cancer Research and led by Professor Rosalind Eeles at the Institute of Cancer Research. A researcher that you’ve helped to fund. Steve spat into a test tube at home and posted it back to the team for analysis. 

Although this spit test showed that Steve needed further investigation for possible cancer, he wasn’t referred for further tests until six months after the first one because of the impact of the pandemic. But eventually, after a multi parametric scan he was referred for a biopsy and was diagnosed with prostate cancer, three weeks after his 69th birthday.

"Play well, hole lots of putts, and keep the Prostate Cancer UK flag flying."

❤️ @Danny_Willett reunites with former coach Steve Rolley to discuss the support of @ProstateUK and his personal battle with prostate cancer... #BetfredBritishMasters🇬🇧 | #MenWeAreWithYou pic.twitter.com/aLZOcicgcO

— British Masters (@british_masters) May 5, 2022

Steve said: “It wasn’t a fast-growing cancer but it did need treatment. And although I spoke to my friends about it, I’d made up my mind that if it was located in the prostate I would have it out.”

Steve has always had a keen interest in his health and, mindful of his age and risk of the disease, had regular PSA tests for the last decade. His prostate had been enlarged but he was told that was regular for his age. His diagnosis has made him acutely aware of the challenges of PSA testing, and now he wants to help find a better test to deliver a screening programme so more men can get an early diagnosis that could save their life.

Steve said: “The PSA test wasn’t reliable for me as I got cancer and I had a very low PSA reading. If we can find a reliable test it has to be done. If I can do anything to make people aware, and help with some funding to make sure the research carries on, I’ll do it. So other people don’t have to be lucky, like I was lucky. I hope there’ll be a routine test for all men at a certain age, when you get a letter through the post, spit into a tube, send it off and they will hopefully say you are fine.”

Steve is keen to help spread the word about this disease and knows that professionals like Danny and himself can get golfers attention, adding: “Golfers do listen to golf pros – it would be a really good way to put that message across. I think it’s great how things have kind of gone full circle with Danny. I helped him a bit and now he’s helping me and men like me with his work for Prostate Cancer UK. From an awareness point of view, golf is exactly the right audience to hit. Just look at the average age of memberships.”

Danny was host at the British Masters last year too, when he met the man who inspired him to support us, John Brownless. He raised a whopping £32,000 and the PGA offered him a second chance to host, this time with fans in attendance. Around 50,000 are expected to visit the iconic venue, and as charity partners we have a strong presence in the fanzone, including both long putt and chipping challenges. Our volunteers will be on site throughout the week collecting donations and speaking to fans.

Reflecting on a young Willett, Steve added: “He was always very hard working, very intense and very focussed as a young man. He’s from the Rotherham/Sheffield area and so am I, so we have that in common. We were both members of Rotherham Golf Club.

“I’m not surprised at his success,” he added. “He made up his mind he was going to work as hard as he possibly could to give himself the best chance possible. When he performs well, he performs very well. He knows how to win. He’s remained down to earth and someone you can talk to and have a conversation with. I’d put him in the same mould as Justin Rose. They don’t change no matter what success they have. So I’m not surprised he has the Prostate Cancer UK logo on his bag and is doing whatever he can to support the charity.”

And there’s another reason thousands of supporters like Steve will be cheering on Willett at this weeks Masters - Betfred has pledged £1,000 for every birdie and £2,000 for every eagle tournament host Willett makes at The Belfry, with all donations going directly to research to transform how prostate cancer is diagnosed and treated. Betfred will also donate £50,000 to Prostate Cancer UK if any player gets a hole-in-one.

Come on Danny!

1 in 8 men will get prostate cancer - a dad, brother, partner or golf mate. Read more about our mission to deliver a screening programme for prostate cancer.

Read: Why don't we invite all men for a prostate cancer test?