Steve Wheatcroft has shared his struggle with alcoholism.
The former PGA Tour player, who went pro in 2001 and retired in 2019, revealed his story on social media. He wrote an essay detailing his journey after leaving professional golf, which he posted on X.
"The thing about hanging on by a thread is that it’s always just that close to snapping. I should’ve spent time building that thread up, but instead I assumed everything would work itself out. Until the day came that it didn’t….. No more silence.My Story in bio. PLZ SHARE pic.twitter.com/FqcjpunKfR" – September 1, 2024
In his career, Wheatcroft made 170 appearances on the PGA Tour and won two Web.com Tour events. But it was in 2022, while working as a financial advisor, that his problems began to surface.
From Golf to Financial Struggles:
Wheatcroft threw himself into his new job with the same intensity as he did with golf. Initially successful , things started going downhill after the first year. By the third year, he faced a major setback when a crucial deal fell through.
Feeling defeated and desperate for relief, Wheatcroft turned to alcohol. "I walked over and poured a vodka with a splash of OJ," he wrote. "That drink is where part of me died."
Fans might find this news both shocking and heartbreaking.
For two years, Wheatcroft lived in a constant state of intoxication without anyone noticing. The end of his golf career also led to losing contact with friends who were only interested in his connection to the tour.
He noted: “Friends that used to call and text weekly all of the sudden disappear because your golf career no longer brings them that connection to the tour that they wanted.”
Eventually, his health deteriorated due to excessive drinking. With support from his family, Wheatcroft checked into a treatment center for almost 40 days—a move he credits with saving his life.
“After several trips to the hospital for various things (usually liver related), I couldn’t keep going the way I was,” he explained.
Wheatcroft believes golfers are wrongly taught to suppress their emotions: “Golfers are taught to be mentally strong from day one… let s*** build up so we feel the stress in our bodies daily.”
He urges others facing similar issues not to stay silent: “Talk to a friend, talk to a therapist… just f** talk."
His candidness comes shortly after Grayson Murray’s tragic death due to similar struggles with alcoholism and depression.
What do you think about Steve’s story?
