Why are players wearing yellow ribbons during the Memorial Tournament?

If you’re headed to Muirfield Village Golf Club for the final day of the Memorial Tournament on June 7, you’ll see a lot more yellow than usual.

And you’re encouraged to wear yellow yourself.

It’s all to support “Play Yellow,” a program of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals to support local children’s hospitals, including Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

Here is why many people will be wearing yellow at Muirfield Village:

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The “Play Yellow” idea was inspired by Jack Nicklaus, the Memorial Tournament founder. Nicklaus wore yellow shirts in the final round of tournaments.

According to the tournament website, he wore yellow to honor Craig Smith, who was the son of a close friend. Craig Smith died in 1971 at age 13 from bone cancer.

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On the final day of the Memorial Tournament, many golfers and tournament attendees will wear yellow and don yellow ribbons to raise money for Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

The “Play Yellow” theme, according to the Memorial Tournament website, is inspired by the yellow shirts Jack Nicklaus wore during the final round of tournaments. He wore yellow to honor Craig Smith, the son of a close friend who fought bone cancer and died at 13 in 1971.

The “Play Yellow” campaign invites Memorial Tournament fans and players to do the following to help raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network hospitals:

All donations made during the Memorial will go toward multiple initiatives at Nationwide Children’s Hospital

Wear yellow for Sunday’s final round

Purchase special Play Yellow merchandise

Donate at concession stands or within the golf shop

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Donations can be made at  playyellow.org. 

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Why are players wearing yellow ribbons at the Memorial Tournament?