Each week, a fleet of specialized tractor-trailers, known as Performance Centers, travels to PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions events, offering crucial health and wellness support to professional golfers.
This extensive operation covers over 60 tournaments and spans more than 24,000 miles annually.
Recently, the Cleveland Clinic was officially designated as the healthcare provider for elite professional golfers.
Both medical professionals and performance experts are now integrated into a comprehensive program that, while evolving over four decades, is now recognized as a pioneering initiative. It delivers seamless access to a wide array of essential medical services, enabling players to maintain peak performance.
The physical well-being of a player is often considered their most valuable asset. Ten-time PGA Tour winner and two-time major champion Xander Schauffele emphasized the importance of this, recalling a significant health scare involving another player.
“JT’s minor leg issue turned out to be melanoma,” Schauffele shared. “It highlights why players should either utilize these on-site services or ensure they get regular check-ups at home.”
Dr. Tom Hospel, the PGA Tour’s Medical Director, reports that his team consistently attends to approximately 80% of the field through services like physical therapy, the chiropractic trailer, or workouts at the recovery center. This number is expected to rise as enhanced services become available to players.
“I’m thrilled for the players. They now have access to world-class physicians and facilities,” Hospel stated. “If any health issues arise, connecting them to the Cleveland Clinic network is a fantastic advantage. They will hopefully benefit not only from the medical staff and facilities but also from all the additional resources this partnership provides.”
This upgraded support is particularly beneficial for players like Hank Lebioda, a tenth-year touring professional whose father, David, is a retired doctor from Orlando.
“I had an EKG and a dermatology check-up at the Cognizant Classic,” said Lebioda, a former ACC Player of the Year from Florida State, after making the cut at the Valspar Championship. “Being constantly outdoors, a routine EKG reading saved me a trip to a doctor’s office. This level of access is truly excellent.”
According to Hospel, the Cleveland Clinic aims to shape the future of athletes by improving performance, developing long-term health strategies, and leveraging research and data insights to support ongoing development and player well-being.
This initiative includes a brand-new Global Peak Performance Center, slated to open next year on the banks of the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland. This planned 210,000-square-foot facility will offer comprehensive care for the general public and athletes of all calibers, providing access to advanced testing, high-tech training equipment, and collaborative clinical teams covering orthopedic surgery, sports medicine, cardiology, pulmonology, neurology, nutrition, psychology, genetics, and more.
The Peak Performance Center will utilize extensive data from partnerships like this, employing advanced analytics and artificial intelligence to better understand the factors influencing human performance and to more effectively support athletes’ physical and mental readiness.
“Our teams will deliver integrated, multidisciplinary, and performance-focused care that promotes player longevity, resilience, and recovery,” affirmed Tom Mihaljevic, M.D., CEO and President of Cleveland Clinic and holder of the Morton L. Mandel CEO Chair. “This collaboration allows us to apply cutting-edge insights, enhance wellness across the TOUR, and advance our shared commitment to helping individuals achieve their highest potential both on and off the course.”
Another crucial aspect of the partnership, according to Hospel, is immediate access to medical records.
“These are international players who travel weekly. A key reason for our excitement about the Cleveland Clinic partnership is their use of the Epic electronic medical record system, which is adopted by about 70% of all hospital systems,” Hospel explained. “Players will have access to their test results on their app, and any physician they visit will also have access. This ensures continuity of care and seamless service, helping them maintain their health and address issues proactively at home.”
