Trevor Norby overcomes two blood disorders on his journey to professional golf

TYLER, Texas (KETK) — Trevor Norby grew up in Southern California with dreams of playing in the big leagues.

“I played baseball for the longest time. Huge Padres fan growing up in San Diego,” Norby said.

Then, at the age of nine, Norby got the news no one wants to hear, let alone a seemingly healthy kid.

“I was diagnosed with a blood disorder called aplastic anemia. I was bruising really easily so I couldn’t play baseball anymore. Started playing a little bit of golf,” Norby said.

Doctors were able to treat Norby’s blood disorder and stabilize him.

In the meantime, he found a new passion in golf, where he showed promise as a teenager.

“Started playing a lot in seventh, eighth grade. My dad’s an instructor and my uncle played on tour for a little bit so it was kind of an easy transition of, ‘Ok, I got some good guidance here. Let’s go all in and see how good we can get,'” Norby said.

Things were looking up for Norby as he traded in his bat for a set of clubs.

Then, his freshman year of high school, Norby was diagnosed with a secondary blood disease, needing a bone marrow transplant in 2011 to overcome the potentially terminal diagnosis.

“That was definitely one of those that puts your perspective in a certain place of not knowing if you’re gonna be able to play golf again,” Norby said.

The latest hardship gave Norby new perspective and renewed his drive to become a professional golfer.

He started his college career at San Diego State, where major champions Xander Schauffele and J.J. Spaun both played, before transferring to Division II Oklahoma Christian where he was a two-time All-American.

“Build some confidence. Learn how to win some golf tournaments and transfer that all the way up into scoring and building on that to professional golf,” Norby said.

Then, another setback.

Right out of college Norby blew out the labrum on his right shoulder.

There was surgery, rehab and work to get back to 100 percent, but Norby didn’t flinch, and is feeling good heading into his second-straight Texas State Open.

“Seems like it’s coming around. Starting to hit the ball better again,” Norby said.

Norby now calls Sulphur Springs home and works at Sulphur Springs Country Club where he gives lessons alongside his college teammate, Alex Motes, who’s the assistant pro.

Whether or not Norby comes home with the hardware this week at the 55^th M&P Group Texas State Open, he’s already won at life, beating the odds time and again.

There’s nowhere he’d rather be than on the golf course chasing his dreams.

“This is what I’ve always wanted to do ever since as I said I started going through everything I went through…middle school, high school. I wanted the opportunity to go compete against other good players and make some money doing the game that I love, so I’m exactly where I wanna be,” Norby said.

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