Military veterans got out Monday morning for the nine-hole PGA Hope Secretary's Cup at Penfield Country Club.

It's part of a program helping veterans dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder and other challenges.

The tournament's liaison says it takes a nation to heal a veteran.

"Anybody who has ever played this great game knows that you have to be singular focused,” said Chris Nowak, military and veteran liaison for PGA of America. “Be focused on striking that golf club. What that does is help the veteran reprogram their minds thinking of singular focus and being mindful in that moment of time. What that equates to is a veteran goes out to play 18 holes and after the eight week, say they shoot 110. So that's 110 times that that veteran is not revisiting the trauma they deal with daily."

Meanwhile, tournament play for the PGA Championship gets underway Thursday.