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HONOLULU, HAWAII | The relief efforts related to the ongoing wildfires in Australia received a significant boost last week through the Sony Open in Hawaii, the Presidents Cup, the PGA Tour and other groups.
A group of golfers in the Sony Open field, most of them Australian, agreed to donate money to the cause for every birdie and eagle they made during the four-day tournament at Waialae Country Club.
The group, which included Marc Leishman, Cameron Smith, Matt Jones, Cameron Davis, Rhein Gibson, Cameron Percy and Parker McLachlin, had raised more than $14,000 entering the weekend.
Additionally, the International Presidents Cup team donated $125,000 from its charitable fund to benefit the relief efforts in Australia, where the Presidents Cup was played in December.
The Presidents Cup and the PGA Tour also agreed to match donations from the Sony Open competitors.
“I want to thank the rest of the International team for their contributions to the cause and I know all of Australia – and particularly the victims – will be very grateful,” Leishman said in an announcement. “These bushfires are an ongoing crisis that continues to cut a devastating path right across Australia so support from the global community is crucial. It has been heartening to see the resiliency of the Australian people and to see the firefighters and volunteers from around the world coming together to continue this important fight.
“But the scale of the destruction is huge and it will continue to take a team effort from every corner of the globe as we look to the future. The fires are expected to burn through the Australian summer and coming months, and the families who lost loved ones, homes and priceless memories will feel the effects for years to come. So, too, will our unique wildlife so all support is greatly appreciated.”
Smith came to Hawaii from Australia, where he got a sense of the massive impact of the fires.
“It's pretty tragic to see,” Smith said. “I flew into Sydney to come here, and usually from Sydney airport you can see downtown, the skyline, Sydney skyline. You couldn’t see that. The smoke was pretty bad.”
Smith said an uncle of his had lost all of his property near New South Wales as a result of the fires.
“It’s hit everyone a bit hard,” Smith said.
Ron Green Jr.