Players at this week’s Players Championship will wear blue and yellow ribbons in support of the people of Ukraine while the PGA Tour has donated much needed funds to Golfers For Ukraine, an industry-wide effort that is collecting donations for UNICEF.
PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan announced the Tour’s support of the initiative in his press conference before the action gets underway at TPC Sawgrass tomorrow.
“Our hearts go out to the people of Ukraine and those caught in the crosshairs of the conflict,” said Monahan. “We hope for an end to this senseless violence and a peaceful resolution. The game of golf has a way of rallying around important causes and this is one.
“I believe Jon Rahm shared some thoughts with you already in his press conference about our Golfers For Ukraine effort. The PGA TOUR is proud to join this industry-wise initiative to provide financial support and awareness for the crisis.
“At golfersforukraine.com the industry is collecting donations for UNICEF, a United Nations agency responsible for providing humanitarian and development aid to children impacted by this crisis. The PGA TOUR and many others have already made donations, and we are encouraging support from the broader golf ecosystem.”
UNICEF’s first shipment of humanitarian aid arrived in Ukraine last weekend and more are scheduled, the organization said. The shipment of an estimated 62 tons of supplies arrived in a six-truck convoy and included medical supplies such as medicine, first-aid kids, midwifery kits and surgical equipment.
Rory McIlroy added: “I think what’s going on in Ukraine is absolutely horrible. It’s absolutely brutal. It’s sad. It’s heartbreaking to see what’s happening to that country and those people and the families. From a human side of things, it’s just horrible what is going on.”
As of Wednesday morning the initiative has raised $316,130.