TUCSON, Ariz. — Twelve-time PGA Tour Champions winner Jerry Kelly couldn’t care concerning the state of his sport this week in Southern Arizona. Nor did he fear about how he and his crew would fare throughout Thursday’s Professional-Am forward of the Cologuard Traditional, the event he hosts.
This occasion extends far past enjoying golf and competing for a trophy. It’s per week dedicated to saving lives, celebrating survivors, and advocating for colon most cancers consciousness, a subject not mentioned sufficient among the many American inhabitants. This terrible illness is the second deadliest most cancers in america, a actuality that Kelly sadly is aware of all too nicely. His childhood finest good friend, Rob Andringa, succumbed to colon most cancers in 2020, which led Kelly to take a extra vital stand to help colon most cancers initiatives and make this event stand out among the many relaxation.
“We had two [colon cancer survivors] in our [Pro-Am] group immediately, and it simply means a lot to me to have the ability to give them one thing as a result of what they’re going by means of and who they’ve misplaced, I imply, it hits you fairly deep,” Kelly stated.
“To have them on the market, you simply acquired to have smiles on the complete time and ensure they’ve probably the most enjoyable that they might probably have on a golf course, present ‘em that that may occur on a golf course.”
This yr, roughly 350 colon most cancers sufferers and survivors traveled to Tucson for the Cologuard Traditional. Some participated within the Professional-Am. However everybody got here to have a great time, escape their difficult realities, and most significantly, mingle with others combating related battles and work together with colon most cancers advocacy teams. Preventing colon most cancers could be a lonely expertise. Many sufferers have no idea the place to show for help nor do they wish to share their tales.
Which makes the fifteenth inexperienced so unbelievable.
The stands surrounding the fifteenth inexperienced, with the tantalizing Santa Catalina Mountains within the backdrop, is named ‘Survivor Central.’ It’s a devoted space for colon most cancers survivors, sufferers, and their households — a spot the place they will watch golf, cheer on the event, and socialize with different people who’ve been to hell and again.
However the Cologuard Traditional is stepping issues up this yr with an unbelievable initiative associated to this gap.
For any birdie made on this 418-yard dogleg proper par-4, the event will donate $1,500 to the ‘Birdies for Survivors’ fund. Each birdie made on the fifteenth gap will sponsor a colon most cancers affected person to attend subsequent yr’s Cologuard Traditional, a life-changing week for numerous people affected by this illness.
When three-time main winner Padraig Harrington realized about this, he determined to up the ante.
“I’ll inform you what, I’ll double it up,” Harrington stated.
“If I make a birdie, I’ll give $1,500 on prime of what they offer.”
Ought to Harrington birdie the fifteenth gap at any level this week, he’ll assist ship not one however two sufferers to subsequent yr’s Cologuard Traditional.
“I’m not letting [Harrington] try this with out me, are you kidding me? I’m in, I’m in,” stated Kelly, who cherished the Irishman’s concept and hopped on board.
“I’m doing $1,501,” the event host added, one-upping Harrington.
“I’ve talked with Paddy about this occasion. He and all of the gamers have purchased in that that is a lot greater than a golf event. This motion to get individuals screened, they see, and so they’ve performed with individuals who we have now misplaced. It’s one thing that we don’t need to undergo if we get screened, we don’t need to lose individuals to this illness. It’s wonderful, there’s nonetheless 60 million on the market which might be behind of their screening. I can’t say it loud sufficient and sometimes sufficient and I’m going to maintain doing it. Yeah, we have to get the attention out.”
That’s what this week is all about: getting the phrase out.
Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By means of. Observe him on X @jack_milko.