Peter Oosterhuis’ Battle with Alzheimer’s Disease

Interviewing Peter Oosterhuis

Sometimes the best personal stories embody the stories of millions.

That was the case when we sat down with Peter Oosterhuis and his wife Roothie in Park City, Utah.

Oosterhuis – a beloved CBS golf announcer and seven-time European Tour winner – had just revealed to the world that he has early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.

We were visiting with them to shoot a feature for a CBS special called Playing with a Purpose that aired August 4th.

Peter wanted to share his story to help the estimated five million other people battling the same disease right now, and all the millions who will get it in the future. According to the Alzheimer’s Association – every 67 seconds someone in the U.S. develops the disease.

Alzheimer's is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior.Symptoms usually develop slowly and get worse over time. It’s the 6th leading cause of death in the United States, and there is currently no known cure.

Oosterhuis’ battle unfolded during our interview with him – as he lost the name of the very disease he is battling. Incredibly ironic and frustrating for a man whose job it was to memorize and deliver the facts and figures of professional golf to millions of people week after week - live.

We all left the day touched by this story – told by a warm and friendly man and his loving wife. I guess every memory is precious, and this one certainly will be for me.

Watch PLAYING WITH A PURPOSE Feature on Peter Oosterhuis

In publicizing his battle with Alzheimer’s, Oosterhuis is joining fundraising forces with Jim Nantz, a great friend and supporter who lost his father to Alzheimer’s in 2008. He started the Nantz National Alzheimer’s Center at Houston Methodist Neurological Center in 2011.

Click here to learn more about the Nantz National Alzheimer’s Center, and how you can help

To learn more about this disease itself - visit the Alzheimer's Association.

This Playing with a Purpose segment was produced by our friends at PGA Tour Entertainment.

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Written by Tom Miller, Copyright © 2015 Big Pictures Media, Inc.