COLUMBUS, Ohio — With the first round of the Memorial Tournament starting today, it’s important to remember that the event is more than just a golf tournament.

What You Need To Know

  • The first round of The Memorial Tournament is Thursday, May 29

  • Every year a portion of the proceeds from the Memorial Tournament are passed on to Central Ohio charities and beyond

  • Nearly $41 million has gone to Nationwide Children’s Hospital, which has been a primary beneficiary of the Tournament since its inception in 1976 
 

Each year at the Memorial Tournament, current and former patients from Nationwide Children's Hospital get the opportunity to take center stage for tournament events. And one of this year’s patient champions being recognized is Emersen White. 

White spent more than 160 nights at Children’s battling MSSA and several other health complications. 

“We got to know the doctors and nurses so well. They became like my best friends. They tried to make my stay as normal as possible,” said White, Patient Champion.

Jack Nicklaus, founder, host and two-time winner of the Memorial Tournament, said the whole reason he founded the memorial tournament was to thank the people of Central Ohio for supporting him throughout his career. 

“Charity became a part of that. Back in those days, charity was a very small part of tournaments. Tournaments gave a couple thousand dollars to charity in those days. That was pretty big to be able to give anything,” said Jack Nicklaus, founder of The Memorial Tournament.

Now, nearly $41 million has gone to Nationwide Children’s Hospital, which has been a primary beneficiary of the Tournament since its inception in 1976. 

“We’re doing what we can do. We’ve supported Nationwide Children’s Hospital from day one. It’s been a big part of this tournament,” Nicklaus said.

Officials with Nationwide Children’s hospital foundation said they’re grateful to benefit from a national event the size of the Memorial Tournament. The tournament supports the Memorial Tournament Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The partnership is so strong that the facility is named in the golf tournament’s honor to recognize their generosity.

“Since the founding of Nationwide Children’s Hospital in 1892, philanthropy has really played a major role in making it possible for us to do what we do. The Memorial Tournament presented by workday is a wonderful example of a long-term donor, a long-term commitment that has really changed the trajectory of our hospital,” said Scott McKenzie, assistant vice president of external relations for Nationwide Children’s Hospital Foundation.

And after spending so much time in the hospital, White said she wants to spread awareness for the place that saved her life. 

“The money that people donate to Nationwide Children’s hospital and specifically Jack Nicklaus, it goes towards research and I know that I wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for the people like him so this amazing research can be done,” White said.

White’s mom, Heidi, said she can’t say enough about the relationship between the tournament and the Hospital. 

“We’re just so fortunate that we have it right here and through the support of people, like Jack and Barbara Nicklaus, we can just continue to have the research done and support not only our local community, but the people around the country as well,” said Heidi Popadych, White’s mom.