Viewers of the Honda Classic might have noticed small, yellow ribbons pinned to the hats of a few players at PGA National over the weekend.
They were for a good cause.
The Honda Classic was the kickoff of the “Play Yellow” campaign, created by Jack and Barbara Nicklaus. “Play Yellow” benefits local children’s hospitals, working to impact the 10 million children treated annually at Florida children’s hospitals.
According to the “Play Yellow” website, donations from the Honda Classic went toward “advancing and enhancing the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of childhood diseases and disorders.”
But why yellow?
Before his retirement in 2005, Jack always wore yellow on Sundays in honor of Craig Smith, a young fan and the son of his former minister in Columbus, Ohio. In 1968 at the age of 11, Smith was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma, a rare bone cancer.
The “Play Yellow” website states Craig would predict a victory for Jack if he wore his lucky yellow shirt on Sundays. Smith died at the age of 13 in 1971, but was never forgotten by Jack.
Players like Tommy Fleetwood, Luke Donald and Honda Classic winner Sungjae Im brought awareness to “Play Yellow” Sunday with yellow ribbons on their hats at PGA National. In his first PGA Tour victory, Im won at 6 under, one shot ahead Mackenzie Hughes.
Fans were also encouraged to wear yellow to Sunday’s final round and even purchase merchandise sold at the event.