Yellow is the chosen theme on day four of the Memorial Tournament – and for a very special reason.
The annual PGA Tour signature event returns to Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio this week to celebrate its 50th anniversary.
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Rory McIlroy is one player to have worn yellow at Nicklaus’ Memorial TournamentCredit: Getty
Jack Nicklaus, who won an all-time record of 18 major titles, founded the event in 1976 and designed the course on which it is played.
He won in 1977 and 1984, and became an honouree at the turn of the century thanks to his long-standing status as a golfing icon.
Tiger Woods has won the most titles with five, and Scottie Scheffler is the reigning champion looking for a third consecutive victory.
The Memorial Tournament is regarded as an exalted invitational and boasts a $20million prize purse, with $4m awarded to the champion.
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However, whilst golfers usually abide by a strict dress code at events such as this, they are encouraged to don yellow as part of their attire.
Why do players wear yellow at the Memorial Tournament?
The reason is rather heartwarming, and dates back to the founder’s legendary successes on the golf course.
Nicklaus, nicknamed ‘the Golden Bear’, used to wear yellow during his final rounds at tournaments in tribute to a close friend’s son.
Rev. Dr. William E. Smith was the senior pastor at Nicklaus’ local church in Columbus, Ohio, and had two children, Craig and Janet.
Craig was an avid golfer and, thanks to his father’s friendship with ‘the Golden Bear’, lucky to be acquainted with an all-time great.
However, he was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, a rare type of bone cancer, in 1968 and had six months to live.
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Nicklaus wore yellow in his last round at tournaments in tribute to CraigCredit: Getty
Nicklaus did what he could to support Craig by sending tournament souvenirs and phoning him, and also asked the youngster to reveal his favourite coloured golf shirt.
It turned out to be yellow as Craig and his grandfather, who taught him how to play, felt it gave them more success with their clubs.
Nicklaus took note and promised to wear yellow shirts on the last day of televised tournaments as a heartfelt gesture.
His PGA Championship win in February 1971 is just one example of the golfing great sticking to his word.
Tragically, Craig passed away in June that year at just 13-years-old.
“It meant everything to Craig,” his father Dr. Smith explained to Golf World in 2011. When Craig would see Jack on TV in a yellow shirt, he’d say, ‘Hello to you, Jack.'”
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Nicklaus made sure to wear yellow, even in the biggest moments of his careerCredit: Getty
Nicklaus suffered further loss in 1986 ahead of the Masters when his wife Barbara’s mother passed away.
Speaking to the Associated Press after winning the last of six titles at the major he said: “After that, Barbara suggested that I wear a yellow shirt at Augusta in memory of Craig.
“I didn’t tell anybody about it. But that’s the reason I wore the yellow shirt. And I saved it for Sunday.”
Craig’s memory has lived on at the Memorial Tournament with their ‘Play Yellow’ initiative.
It aids the Children’s Miracle Network, who help fund 170 children’s hospitals across the United States and Canada.
Nationwide Children’s Hospital, which is based in Columbus, has been a beneficiary of the tournament ever since it started 50 years ago.
Memorial Tournament players and fans are allowed to wear yellow on the Sunday to show support for the campaign.
Play Yellow merchandise can be purchased, with donations also able to be made at concessions stands or in golf shops.
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Nicklaus won his sixth Green Jacket in yellow attireCredit: Getty
All of the donations made during tournament week are distributed to various Nationwide Children’s Hospital initiatives.
The campaign surpassed an incredible $100m in donations in 2024, with Craig Smith living long in the tournament’s memory.