Double amputee enjoying a loop for friend Chung at U.S. Amateur

Double amputee Brandon Rowland is on the bag for Sydney Chung during the U. S. Men's Amateur at Olympia Fields in Olympia Fields, Ill. ( Tracy Wilcox )OLYMPIA FIELDS, Ill. – Brandon Rowland never should have been here this week at the U.S. Amateur, at least according to doctors.

When he was 6 years old, Rowland was diagnosed with disseminated intravascular coagulation, a rare blood disorder that at the time killed 97 percent of patients.

View images from the final round of stroke play during the U. S. Amateur at Olympia Fields.

Jonah Texeira tries to coax his putt to fall during the U. S. Men's Amateur at Olympia Fields in Olympia Fields, Ill.

Because of the high fatality rate, doctors told…