Major winner Collin Morikawa pledges US$1,000 per birdie to Hawaii fire relief
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Collin Morikawa's family emigrated from Japan to Maui in Hawaii, where his paternal grandparents were born.
PHOTO: AFP
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WASHINGTON – Two-time Major champion Collin Morikawa has pledged to donate US$1,000 (S$1,300) for every birdie he makes in the PGA Tour’s FedExCup play-offs to fire relief efforts in Hawaii.
The American, who has strong family ties to the island of Maui, made the announcement on Instagram on Thursday as the first play-off event, the St Jude Championship, teed off in Memphis.
“Maui has always held a special place in my heart – my grandfather owned a restaurant called The Morikawa Restaurant, on Front Street in Lahaina,” wrote the 26-year-old, who won the 2020 PGA Championship and the 2021 British Open.
“It’s a special place. It’s amazing how many things you take for granted really in life, and when you see that, it’s just heartbreaking.
“The people of Hawaii are going to need all the support that we can give them. During the course of the play-offs, I’m going to donate US$1,000 for every birdie that I make.”
President Joe Biden declared the Hawaii fires a “major disaster”
Officials said that at least 36 people had been confirmed dead
The historic seaside town of Lahaina has been hit the hardest, with more than 270 buildings damaged and destroyed.
Morikawa’s family emigrated from Japan to Maui, where his paternal grandparents were born. He is of Japanese and Chinese descent.
His grandparents then relocated to California, where his parents met and Morikawa was brought up, but the golfer has recalled spending time on Maui and with his family on Hawaii’s Big Island.
“It’s devastating what we’ve been able to... what we’ve been seeing. The before-and-after photos are just heartbreaking, knowing that my entire dad’s side of the family grew up there,” he added.
Morikawa also said in his post that he had not yet determined a beneficiary of the money raised.
A charred boat lies on the scorched waterfront of Maui, after wildfires fanned by the winds of a distant hurricane devastated the island.
PHOTO: REUTERS
“The recency of these events means we haven’t identified the best place for the funds to go yet but as the situation evolves, I’ll share the beneficiary to highlight the recovery work they’ll be doing and how you can also support,” he wrote.
The FedExCup play-offs comprise three events. Seventy players qualified for this week’s tournament, 50 will advance to next week’s BMW Championship and 30 will advance to the season-ending Tour Championship. AFP
