Shared experiences can deepen our respect for others. Nicolas Colsaerts is well aware of that. The DP World Tour pro recently joined Sky Sports Golf. There, he discussed his kidney scare that almost put him on the fence with golf. Not only did it leave a lasting impact on Colsaerts’ mental health, but it also sparked a deep appreciation for the golf veteran Bernhard Langer. So what went down?

The host asked Colsaerts about the impact the medical crisis had on him, both as a golfer and as a person. The Belgian star didn’t shy away from acknowledging the profound influence it had on him. Colsaerts revealed that he had been struggling with his mental health for the past few years, ever since he was diagnosed with Primary Membranous Nephropathy, a rare kidney disease. The disease had deeper implications for him than just physical or mental. Quipping on his retirement, Colsaerts said in the podcast, “It changed everything. And I think it’s one of the reasons why I’ve been contemplating hanging up the boots for a couple of years.“

However, down that road, the same wish has made the DP World Tour pro admire golfers like Bernhard Langer more. The golf veteran of the Champions Tour is 68 and still on the greens like that is his home. Colsaerts, who had clearly worn off from 25 years on the circuit, realised the dedication and passion for the sport that golfers required to maintain their career for so long. “I look at guys like Miguel Ángel Jiménez and Bernhard Langer and Thomas Bjørn — I have a huge respect, which I didn’t have when I was 25 years old. Back then, you look at all these old guys and think, “What are they still doing out here?” Now I look at it with a huge amount of respect for the drive, the dedication, and the passion for the game,” the 42-year-old admired.

These golf veterans are not just still swinging on the greens. They also keep going above and beyond the world’s expectations. Langer, who has maintained his record of at least one win every year for 18 years, recently expressed his excitement about Tiger Woods potentially joining the Champions Tour. This goes on to show the drive that Langer still flaunts. The 68-year-old swings his driver and meets with his golfing buddies with the same fervour. That is not something to ignore, given Langer’s own medical issues and injuries.

In 2024, Langer suffered from a torn Achilles tendon that required surgery. He sustained the injury while playing pickleball, which he later revealed was a part of his fitness routine. Moreover, the golf veteran had to sit out of the Masters, which he had planned to be his last. However, having the sheer determination he has, Langer returned to the golf courses just 3 months after his surgery. Moreover, besides this injury, Langer has suffered kidney scares of his own, withdrawing from the Deutsche Bank Player Championship of Europe back in 2007. But through it all, Langer has stood his ground on the course and trusted in his golf. No wonder stars like Colsaerts admire this strength of Langer.

But this is not to undermine the resilience Colsaerts himself has shown. Especially during his 2021 medical failure, which brought dark thoughts to his mind. Sharing his own struggles in the same interview, Colsaerts went over one of life’s most painful chapters.

The kidney scare that almost ended Colsaerts’ career

Unlike Bernhard Langer, Colsaerts’ kidney scare was more than just kidney stones. Suffering from rare Primary Membranous Nephropathy, Colsaerts experienced symptoms like swollen ankles, fluid accumulation, and blood clots in his lungs. The scariest part was that they discovered the clots with only a few days left for his Thailand flight. If Colsaerts had hopped on that plane, the clots would have shifted mid-flight and proven fatal. “The scary thing was they found a couple of blood clots in my lungs, and I was supposed to hop on a flight to play a tournament in Thailand only four or five days after that. I don’t have to tell you what can happen on a plane when you’ve got blood clots — it can be quite tragic,” Colsaerts recalled.

Moreover, Colsaerts revealed the nudging effects of the disease. He didn’t suffer any lasting physical challenges. However, the 42-year-old would often find himself severely dehydrated and squirming from cramps. “I had cramps in the middle of the night where I could hardly move — almost to the point of tears,” Colsaerts added the most painful detail. However, one of the worst aftermaths was the mental toll it had on him. The DP World Tour pro would often find himself questioning whether he could ever resume a usual life. In fact, the speculations would often roll into darker thoughts, making him feel that he would die.

A big part of his recovery was the unwavering support of his family. Through the thick of it all, they acted as a mental crutch for Colsaerts, who admitted, “You can’t go through that kind of challenge without the help of others. I’ve been lucky enough to have extremely good people around me.” However, the ghost of the critical chapter still lingers, whether that’s through his growing respect for legends like Langer. Or his gratitude for his loved ones.