PALM BEACH GARDENS — The words across Max Homa’s chest, as he warmed up for his TGL debut, are resonating across the world, and especially for those like Homa, Sahith Theegala, Collin Morikawa and Tiger Woods.
“LA Strong.”
“We’re SoCal kids,” Woods said. “To see what has happened, I’ve known a couple people that have lost everything, so it’s just hard.”
While entertainment was the theme of the night Tuesday as TGL — the indoor golf league created by Tiger and Rory McIlroy — entered Week 2, those personally impacted by the Los Angeles-area fires had much more on their minds.
Woods was born in Orange County, south of L.A. His Jupiter Links teammate, Homa, is from Burbank. Theegala was raised in Chino Hills and his L.A. teammate, Morikawa, was born in L.A.
For Homa and Theegala, especially, both were raised in areas just miles from where more than 40,000 acres have burned north and west of downtown Los Angeles, killing at least 25.
“I know that these natural disasters happen far too often, however, this was the first one I can remember where every news clip, every time someone mentioned an area, I could picture it so well,” Homa said. “It was very eerie.”
LA fires scary for Homa, Theegala
Homa and Theegala have friends and family whose house are amoung the more than 12,300 structures that have damaged or destroyed, including the sister of Theegala’s caddie, Carl Smith.
“When you see it right in front of your eyes it’s as real as it gets and it’s scarier that any media portails, scarier than anything that’s being described,” Theegala said.
“Hopefully by some miracle of God or something we get some rain and all these fires get put out.”
Woods has a strong connection to the area where the largest fire burns. The Genesis Invitational, of which Woods is the host and whose foundation is the beneficiary, is played at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades. The fire has come within blocks of the course, causing heavy damage.
Genesis, the second Signature Event of the season, is scheduled for Feb. 13-16. The PGA Tour sent a memo to its players Thursday saying it’s “premature to discuss the potential impact on the Genesis Invitational.”
Woods dismissed any questions about the tournament.
“We have meetings scheduled going forward but as of right now, we’re not really focused on the tournament,” said Woods, whose first PGA Tour event, the 1992 Los Angeles Open, was at Riviera. “It’s more about what we can do to help everyone who’s struggling, who’s lost homes and had their lives changed.”
Gusts of 50-70 mph were forecasted for late Tuesday and into Wednesday, increasing the threat of spreading the blaze.
“I get to that point sometimes when you think it’s over but it’s not,” Morikawa said. “Winds are picking up, fires are still going, people are still out there fighting fires, protecting their houses, helping their neighbors, helping communities.”
LA Golf Club is part of a fundraiser that includes the region’s professional sports franchises and major colleges, producing LA Strong merchandise with 100% of profits donated to the American Red Cross and the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation.
Morikawa, Theegala and Justin Rose spoke about LA Golf Club playing its part in sports as a distraction from the devastation.
“What has happened, I know I was just trying to hit great shots but I was trying to play a little bit harder for them and what’s going on back home,” Morikawa said. “It’s nice to get another win for L.A. and the city of L.A., and we’re there for them as much as we can and doing our part hopefully just a little bit to keep the spirits high.”
Tom D’Angelo is a senior sports columnist and reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at tdangelo@pbpost.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: LA fires: Tiger Woods, TGL peers honor victims after golf match
