From disease and depression to Dunhill delight - Nicolas Colsaerts is ready to go again after retirement plan

By Mathieu Wood

The FedEx Open de France was due to be Nicolas Colsaerts’ swansong as a professional golfer. But with one performance, which nearly saw him make a remarkable return to the DP World Tour winner’s circle, those plans were quickly shelved.

After struggling with illness and form in recent years, Colsaerts had quietly earmarked last week's Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland, followed by Continental Europe’s oldest national open as his final two events.

So it was heart-warming to see the popular Belgian, so fondly remembered for playing his part in the Ryder Cup ‘Miracle at Medinah’ in 2012, roll back the years and come so very close to writing another brilliant story, this time at The Home of Golf.

Despite missing nine cuts in his previous 15 starts on the 2024 Race to Dubai campaign, the 41-year-old pushed one of the world’s best players all the way, only for a birdie by England's Tyrrell Hatton on the 18th hole at St Andrews’ Old Course to deny him by one shot.

However, while acknowledging afterwards that just missing out on what would have been his fourth DP World Tour title and first in almost five years was "bittersweet", Colsaerts had proved to himself he still had the ability to compete on this stage. While he may have missed the cut this week at Le Golf National, thoughts of him approaching his last dance are in the past.

“It’s funny how when you don’t really care that much, you seize an opportunity when it is there, and you enjoy every minute of it,” he tells the DP World Tour in an exclusive interview in France.

"I was there [in the moment] every second of the day, every shot of the day.

“All of a sudden when you don’t put that unnecessary pressure on yourself, you just play the game again and it felt incredibly good.”

His runner-up finish has most significantly seen him regain his card for next season on the DP World Tour, and earned him almost €500,000 in prize money, considerably his biggest pay cheque since he won the Open de France in 2019.

Back then, Colsaerts was battling to keep his card. When it counts most, he performs. History tells you so.

When it is put to him that it was apt that at the sport's most historic venue the golfing gods were there to make him think twice about retirement, he says: “I was always at my best when I was inspired.

"If you’re not inspired by playing at St Andrews, Carnoustie, and also Kingsbarns… and these amazing golf courses in somehow decent weather then you might as well just not take up the sport."

A late invite into the event, Colsaerts achieved a rare feat in his third round at Kingsbarns as he made a memorable albatross at the par-five 16th.

So, with three consecutive rounds of 65, he began the final round one shot adrift of overnight leader Hatton, and after initially losing further ground, the pair were locked on top of the leaderboard at the 16th, before Hatton's final-hole birdie eventually proved decisive.

“What was amazing was to walk those last couple of holes at St Andrews against a very high calibre player that we all know of, and I didn’t shy away from it," he reflects.

"I gave it what I thought was a pretty decent shot. Considering what has happened in my life over the last couple of years, a lot of people would have crumbled and I absolutely didn’t because I have this in my blood and it was extremely satisfying to feel that rush of blood again."

As Colsaerts alludes to, he has faced personal challenges - publicly revealing in a DP World Tour Player Blog in 2022 he feared for his life after being diagnosed with a rare kidney disease - which have stood in his way of returning to his full potential, resulting in him balancing his playing opportunities with being a commentator.

Earlier this season, he revealed he struggled with “toxic” self-criticism after finding it difficult to reassess his goals following his spell away with illness.

“As soon as I was showing decent progress I fell into a pretty dark depression," he recalls. "I didn’t think I could be a person who would fall into such a dark place.

“For the people who know me, you go from who I always was, pretty social and [offering] pretty decent banter to struggling to talk to waiters in restaurants.

“It is extremely challenging, and you think it is going to be your reality for a long while and then when you start opening your eyes at the end of the tunnel you realise that it was a phase.

"But I do now understand why people don’t see the end of it and go through the ultimate choice of life. It’s something not to look at lightly."

Throughout it, his wife, Rachel, was "incredible" with her unconditional support, while he credits long-time DP World Tour doctor Andrew Murray as also being integral in the early stages.

“You can’t help but think about what I am imposing on my family," he says. "It’s a mixture [of feelings]; embarrassment, guilt and shame."

This, shortly after Colsaerts had played his part in leading the partisan home crowd with the ‘Thunder Clap’ at the Ryder Cup at Le Golf National.

"In the end, a couple of weeks before that people were looking at me on the first hole of the Ryder Cup clapping and people think that everything was rosey," he adds.

"Sometimes the problem lies a lot deeper than what it looks like from the outside."

Now, having overcome those tough times, he has much to look forward to, including potentially resuming his duties as a Vice Captain to Team Europe skipper Luke Donald at this year's Ryder Cup at Bethpage.

“I was honoured to have been given the nod by Luke and whatever he decides to do for Bethpage, whether I am in or out, I will cheer on Europe forever," he says.

Asked whether he would relish the chance to captain Europe one day, he adds: "Do I have the CV that qualifies for it? From an understanding, and identifying to the competition, yes.

"But there are going to be other guys in line with bigger Ryder Cup CVs than me.

"If I get the job one day then it will be absolutely amazing, but if I don’t I will do everything I can to make sure that this [trophy] stays ours.”

While that is for the future, the present knowledge that he will grace the fairways around the world in a playing capacity for a little while yet is more than enough for Colsaerts to be pleased about.

"We might go on the merry-go-round a bit longer," he ends with a laugh.