At the 2018 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, most all of the 71 players in the field at Firestone Country Club are wearing a yellow ribbon -- be it on their hat or shirt.
The likes of Tiger Woods, Justin Thomas, Rickie Fowler and the field are wearing that yellow ribbon in support of Jarrod Lyle, who, through his wife Briony, announced this week he is ending treatment in his third battle with acute myeloid leukemia. Lyle, a 36-year-old former PGA Tour player and father of two young daughters, will only be seeking palliative care to reduce the pain which has resulted from the toll of aggressive treatment in hopes of getting the Aussie through another bout with the condition, which he successfully face as a teen in 1999 and again in 2012.
The Lyles' announcement has been heartbreaking for many in the golf world, and PGA Tour players and those in the golf world alike are donating money to the Lyle family in hopes of paying for their daughters' future education and other expenses which will no doubt come up in future years. Tripp Isenhour has started a funding page to raise money, and players like Marc Leishman, Ryan Palmer, Zach Johnson, Tyrone Van Aswegen, Stewart Cink and others have already contributed publicly. Others have no doubt pledged money in private.
PGATour.com's Ben Everill has reported there's been a commitment made by a number of Tour players to ensure a good future for Lyle's family.
When Lyle was battling leukemia in 2012, players wore a pin with the logo of Leuk the Duck, which is the mascot of sorts for Challenge, an Australia-based charity which supports child cancer patients. Lyle became a supporter of the organization when he first battled cancer as a 17-year-old. In his final pro golf starts, Lyle wore a yellow-and-blue Titleist bucket hat in support of Challenge. It's hoped Titleist will be able to produce the hats again, with proceeds benefiting Challenge and Lyle's family.
You can support Challenge with a donation or purchasing merchandise through their store, and you can donate to the fundraising page for Lyle's family.
