Pernice opts to play in Buick Open after tough decision

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Tom Pernice, Jr. had a difficult decision to make this week.

As any PGA TOUR golfer can attest, life on the road means recitals will be missed, school plays have to be videotaped and pee-wee soccer games are attended by Coach Mom. But Pernice has it a little harder than most.

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Tom Pernice feels blessed to have such a wonderful and supportive family.

His 13-year-old daughter Brooke, who was born with a rare genetic disease called Lebers Congenital Amaurosis that causes blindness, is an up-and-coming Christian and country music singer.

This week, Brooke and her band will participate and perform at the VisionWalk in Kansas City but her Daddy will likely miss it.

Tom is originally from Kansas City and naturally wanted to get involved with the first-annual Kansas City VisionWalk (one of 39 in the nation) in his hometown. Unfortunately, it happened to fall on the week of the Buick Open, the site of his first PGA TOUR victory in 1999. He made the tough choice to play in Grand Blanc, Mich.

"It's a very important tournament to me. This was my first career win and I feel like I'm playing well now. Brooke and (my wife) Sydney think it's best that I stay here this week," he said prior to the first round of the tournament. "In this business you have to make sacrifices sometimes. It's still in the back of my mind to think about making the Ryder Cup team.

"It's a tough call. Unfortunately I miss out on a lot of fun and important things but I do have to provide for my family and the better I can do that, the better I can fund her ministry and what she's trying to do."

So while his mind is on the PGA TOUR task at hand, his heart will be in Kansas City as family and friends join the "Brooke's Band" team in the walk for a cure. He regrets having to miss the fundraiser but felt like his place was at Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club.

"Hopefully next year he can come," said his wife Sydney. "This is the first one in Kansas City, where the goal for the entire walk was to raise $50,000 and they have already raised $62,000. Our personal goal was the same as the city's and we've already raised $41,000. Her team has raised more than any team for the Foundation for Fighting Blindness. Some TOUR players have been generous to us as well as a lot of other companies."

Pernice shot a 2-over 74 on the first day in Grand Blanc and needs to go low on Friday to make the weekend. Whether he finds another low round like last time when he least expects it or gets to make an early trip out of town, Pernice is in a win-win situation this week -- and in his family life.

"As a 13-year-old she's amazing, let me tell you. She's just a phenomenal individual and we are just so proud of her you can't even imagine," said her gushing papa. "It's beyond your wildest dreams and beliefs that, at the age of 13, she can be so instrumental and have so much passion and be so driven in terms of what she wants to do with her life."

This is the second time in several weeks that Pernice has missed one of Brooke's performances. During the week of the Stanford St. Jude Championship, she was asked to sing the national anthem on Sunday at Dodger Stadium and her dad desperately wanted to be there.

It won't be a problem, he thought. Pernice began the final day 10 strokes behind the leaders in Memphis, so he figured he'd get off the course early and catch a flight back to the West Coast.

Of course, it didn't work out that way. Pernice shot a 7-under 63 -- the lowest round of the tournament -- and had to stick around in case his 2-under par was good enough to win. By the time a lower score was posted, Pernice had missed his opportunity.

But it was Brooke and wife Sydney who encouraged him to stick around that week, just like it was Brooke and Sydney who wanted him to play in the Buick Open. They visited him early in the week -- Brooke performed at the Fellowship Christian Athletes prayer breakfast -- then jetted off to Kansas City for the VisionWalk.

In addition to supporting the Foundation for Fighting Blindness -- which has raised over $4 million to fund sight-saving research -- Brooke and her family have joined forces with Project 3000. That organization was founded by Chicago Cubs star Derrek Lee and Boston Celtics CEO and co-owner Wyc Grousbeck after their families were also affected by LCA.

Medical professionals estimate that about 3,000 people have the genetic disease, so Project 3000 is working to locate every one of those individuals for blood samples. If a family can't afford to pay for the necessary blood work, the organization will assist them.

The more data they can gather, the more research they can do and the closer doctors will come to finding a cure.

"Brooke is a candidate for genetic therapy since her disease is genetic. They are in the trial stages of this right now and they have had great success, with 11 out of 11 people that they've injected with the therapy being able to see," Sydney explained. "In fact, they can read eye charts in a doctor's office a few months later.

"Right now it takes about $3 million per person to cure this disease. The more funds we can raise, obviously the less expensive it would get."

While scientists are working on finding a cure, Brooke is doing her part to help others. As a seven-year-old, Brooke felt the Lord call her to begin a worldwide ministry through music. Fueled by her faith, Brooke released a CD entitled "Help from Above" and has performed throughout the nation.

"Brooke looks at being blind as a blessing. It's just amazing, I couldn't be prouder of her as a father. She's by far the spiritual cornerstone in our family," Pernice said. "She has a wonderful big sister, Kristen, who has always looked out for her and taken care of her. Sydney has done such a wonderful job while I'm out traveling. I can't say enough great things about a family that is so special."

So special, it makes it hard to spend each day out on the golf course.